01:00 AM EDT on Friday, June 9, 2006

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

NEW YORK -- Red Sox manager Terry Francona did a little juggling of his rotation for the weekend because of Mother Nature and nagging health conditions.

And, he conceded, Mother Nature still could throw another curve into his plans if forecasts of heavy rain today in Boston pan out.

But as of yesterday, the upshot was that promising left-hander Jon Lester will indeed be making his major-league debut tomorrow, pitching the afternoon portion of the day-night doubleheader against Texas at Fenway Park.

And in a development related to Matt Clement's overall fatigue, David Pauley, the rookie right-hander who pitched so well in a 2-1 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, has been dropped from the rotation one day after Francona had said he deserved another start. Pauley will be available out of the bullpen tomorrow for the twin bill, with suddenly struggling Josh Beckett starting the nightcap.

Tim Wakefield, who has been bothered by a stiff back, will start tonight against the Rangers, but Francona, unsure of how long the knuckleballer will be able to go, will have Craig Hansen in the bullpen behind him, ready to eat some innings, if needed.

Clement, whose previous outing was last Sunday in Detroit, is being given six days' rest, slated to start Sunday's series finale against the Rangers, which would have been Pauley's turn.

Clement could have pitched tomorrow afternoon's game on an extra day of rest from the normal time frame, but, according to Francona, he had worked so hard and thrown so much to change his motion and get ready for the start against the Tigers that his general fatigue prompted Boston to give him even more time to let his body recover.

The Sox have an off-day on Monday, so at that point, depending on rainouts and results over the weekend, they can reset their rotation. Boston must make a roster move tomorrow to accommodate Lester.

Absentee owner

While Hansen was sitting in the Sox' bullpen last night, the restaurant in which he has a partial ownership stake was having its grand opening in Glen Cove, N.Y. It's called Steamboat Landing, and it serves seafood and American grill food. Hansen said that, because the weather has been so rainy, they will have a second grand opening next week.

A 'cool' selection

Jonathan Papelbon was elated that the Red Sox selected his brother Josh, a sidearming right-hander, in the 48th round of the draft on Wednesday.

"It's cool," said Jonathan, Boston's closer.

A third Papelbon also was picked in the draft. Left-hander Jeremy, Josh's twin, was a 19th-round selection of the Chicago Cubs. Both younger Papelbons pitched for the University of North Florida.

Foulke almost ready

Keith Foulke threw off the mound in the rain on Wednesday, and Francona said he was feeling better than he had expected. The right-hander, who hasn't pitched since May 31 in Toronto, is "close" to returning, Francona said. . . . Center fielder Coco Crisp is being bothered by a blister at the base of the middle finger of his left hand, something that has popped up since his return from the disabled list as he tries to play himself back into top form. Crisp, who generally does not wear batting gloves, has been wearing one on his left hand the last couple of days as protection from the blister. . . . Mike Timlin (right shoulder), who is eligible to leave the DL tomorrow, was expected to throw a side session yesterday.

Around the horn

New York shortstop and captain Derek Jeter (right thumb) was out of the lineup again last night. He missed all three games in the series after being hit by a pitch in Baltimore on Sunday. His status is the proverbial day-to-day. . . . Red Sox left-hander David Wells (bruised right knee) was expected to fly to San Diego yesterday to be examined by Jan Fronek, who performed surgery on his ailing right knee last winter. Wells was going to have more pictures taken of his knee for Fronek, who was to be given the pictures the Red Sox doctors had taken for a means of comparison. . . . For the second time in a week, Kevin Youkilis was struck on the left arm by a pitch. Last night he was drilled by a fastball off the left elbow in the seventh. He came out of the game an inning later. In Detroit last Sunday, Youkilis took a fastball off his left forearm. . . . With runners at second and third and one out in the sixth and the Sox clinging to a one-run lead, Crisp swung at a 3-and-0 pitch and grounded out to second with the Yanks' infield in. Crisp, who missed about seven weeks because of a fractured left index finger, was so upset with himself he slammed his fist on a cooler in the Sox' dugout. He hit it with his right hand. . . . Manny Ramirez went 4-for-6 with three walks in the last two games. One of the outs he made was a tying home run he had taken away from him by Melky Cabrera on Tuesday night.

skrasner@projo.com / (401) 277-7340