BOSTON -- Boston Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital for testing after enlarged lymph nodes were discovered during a medical exam, the team announced Thursday.
Lester was placed on the disabled list with a strained back Monday and was being tested to determine the cause of his back pain when the enlarged lymph nodes were identified, according to the statement from Dr. Thomas Gill, the team's medical director. The Boston Herald first reported the enlarged lymph nodes on its Web site Wednesday night, while also saying Lester was being checked for cancer. One possible cause of enlarged lymph nodes is cancer, thought the most common cause is an infection.
Lester is 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 81 and 1/3 innings. Gill said he was resting comfortably.
Lester's problems were the latest on a team that's been riddled with injuries.
Slugger David Ortiz returned to Boston from the team's West Coast trip for evaluation after he felt heart palpitations just before Monday night's game in Oakland. It was the second time in August that Ortiz was treated for the problem.
Ortiz was released from Massachusetts General on Thursday morning, according to Red Sox spokesman John Blake. He had no additional information.
Left fielder Manny Ramirez has missed several games with a knee injury, and center fielder Coco Crisp injured his shoulder making a diving catch Tuesday.
Catcher Jason Varitek, shortstop Alex Gonzalez and outfielders Trot Nixon and Wily Mo Pena are also out with injuries.
Varitek, Gonzalez and Nixon were scheduled to make rehab appearances Thursday night for Boston's Triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket, R.I.
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