LESTER

PAWTUCKET — While no final decisions have been made, it doesn’t look as if Jon Lester’s final minor-league appearance of this season will come tonight at McCoy Stadium.

Lester, who’s recovering from lymphoma, will start tonight for the PawSox when they host the Indianapolis Indians. The start will mark the end of Lester’s prescribed rehab assignment, but the Red Sox are leaning toward optioning the 23-year-old lefty to the minors so he can continue working back to full health.

With the Red Sox in first place and fifth starter Julian Tavarez hanging in as the team’s fifth starter, there is no reason to rush Lester back to Fenway Park. He’s made just one start with Pawtucket, throwing an impressive five innings (3 hits, 0 runs, 6 Ks) last week against Buffalo.

Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson said he hasn’t been told what Lester’s status will be after tonight, but before last night’s game in Boston, Red Sox skipper Terry Francona seemed to throw water on any idea of Lester bumping Tavarez from the rotation.

“I have seen and heard some things written about Julian [Tavarez] not being in the rotation. Nobody asked me,” Francona told reporters. “My number-one responsibility is to (Lester) and his long-term health. You can read into that what you will.”

Not-so-perfect result

Johnson likes to say that every game is an opportunity not only to improve and make an impact for Triple-A players but also to learn and possibly face a situation for the first time.

That was the case Monday night when Buffalo beat Pawtucket, 12-4. With the game tied, 4-4, in the top of the seventh inning and a runner on second base, Devern Hansack’s pitch count was mounting so Johnson replaced him with Edgar Martinez. The move backfired as Martinez was rocked for three runs in 1 2/3 innings. Craig Hansen replaced Martinez and wasn’t any better, opening the door for the Bisons to roll to a win.

“When you really look at it, Edgar’s been pitching two years,” Johnson said of the former catcher. “It’s a perfect situation for Edgar. All of the innings he’s started this year have been clean innings (with no one on base). So it was perfect. He’s maybe never been in that situation.”

Johnson went on to talk about other players who have encountered new experiences and either shined or struggled. “That’s our job. It’s all about how many guys can be exposed to development,” in a game, he said.

Players settling in

After playing for the fifth straight day for the first time in three weeks, the PawSox are finally settling into the type of groove all players crave. Wet weather and some severe cold plagued the team all April, but those are conditions anyone in the Boston farm system has to get used to.

“When you play a sporadic schedule because of the weather, it’s not an excuse. It’s reality,” said Johnson. “You want to get into a routine. We had our third pregame (workout) at home this season today. That’s it. It’s fine to hit and throw in the (indoor) cage, but it’s just not the same. That happens here. You have to deal with it.”

As soon as last night’s game ended, several PawSox hitters left the clubhouse food behind and flocked to the indoor batting cages.

Around the bases

For the first time in 18 years, the PawSox survived the month of April without seeing a player called up to Boston. The last “dry” April came in 1989 when it took until May 24, when Eric Hetzel was called up to the majors. … The PawSox’ first free youth clinic of the year is scheduled for Saturday, May 12, at 2 p.m.

kmcnamar@projo.com