Vernon Wells of the Blue Jays steals second base during the sixth inning of last night’s game at Fenway. The ball got past Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox and Wells took third base on the play.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

BOSTON— Julian Tavarez is a unique character. Jon Lester is a survivor.

The pair of Red Sox pitchers will likely cross paths in the next couple of weeks when Lester returns from his minor-league rehab stint to possibly replace Tavarez in the starting rotation. Boston manager Terry Francona said he doesn’t know, at this point, what the rotation or the bullpen will look like in a few weeks, but it’s possible the team’s fifth position in the rotation could change on May 6.

As Francona politely put it yesterday, that scenario is still a ways off.

Currently, Tavarez is the man at the end of the rotation, sandwiched between Tim Wakefield and Curt Schilling. Last night, however, Tavarez was pounded by Toronto for six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings as the Blue Jays completed a two-game sweep of the Red Sox at Fenway Park, 10-3.

“I’m not too happy with the job I’m doing out there,” said Tavarez, who dropped to 0-2 this season. “I can tell you one thing, I’m not giving up. I’m going to continue to work my butt off every day and next time look for a better outing because I know I can do it. I’m not afraid to compete. I’m a hard-working guy and I want to keep doing this.”

With Lester’s return on the horizon, it’s possible Tavarez may get only one more start, Sunday at New York. In three starts this season, he has failed to complete five full innings of work each time.

Lester, who was diagnosed with anaplastic large-cell lymphoma last August, began the season at Class-A Greenville and posted a 2-1 record in three starts. He allowed just three runs on 11 hits in 13 innings of work, with 15 strikeouts and two walks.

If Lester has success in his next two minor-league starts for the PawSox — today at Rochester and Tuesday against Indianapolis — that will give the Red Sox a better indication of their immediate plan. It will certainly make things a lot easier on management if Lester can return to form.

The form we’re speaking of allowed the then-22-year-old southpaw to start his major-league career 5-0 for the Red Sox last season. He finished his rookie campaign with a 7-2 mark and a 4.76 ERA.

Tavarez said recently he doesn’t care where or when he pitches, as long as he has an opportunity to help the team win. In that case, he may be shifted to the bullpen in a few weeks, if and when Lester completes his rehab and the organization feels he’s ready to pitch at the major-league level again.

During spring training, the discussion was whether to keep Jonathan Papelbon in the closer’s role or insert him into the rotation. Obviously, the organization felt the dominating reliever is best suited for the bullpen. If, however, Papelbon did become a starter, the rotation probably would have looked like this: Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Papelbon and Tim Wakefield.

When the Red Sox announced that Papelbon would return to the bullpen, and with no other option available, Tavarez became the fifth starter.

The one thing Tavarez has proven over the last two seasons in Boston is that he’s versatile.

“It is very helpful and it’s appreciated,” said Francona. “I remember bullpen people say last year they would see him warm up and (think) he shouldn’t be in this game. Then he would throw three innings and save two other guys so we can maybe win the next day. It’s nice to have guys like that.”

After the Sox’ rotation began to break down late last season, Tavarez became a starter on Aug. 31, which was his first start since September of 2002, when he was with the Florida Marlins. Even though the Red Sox were quickly falling out of the A.L. East race, Tavarez was unbeaten in six starts and was 3-0 with a 4.01 ERA.

“Last year he was catching some flak [as a reliever],” said Francona. “But he was soaking up some innings he had no business pitching, which we really appreciate. Then he ended up coming in at the end and pitching so well. We don’t need to concern ourselves with three weeks down the road. Things will take care of themselves.”

The Red Sox have one of the best starting rotations in baseball. Putting Tavarez back in the bullpen and inserting a healthy Lester into the fifth spot just might work for Boston.

jmcdonal@projo.com