PITTSBURGH _ Jon Lester isn't completely torn about not returning to the Fenway Park mound this weekend.
"It would have been nice to do it," said Lester, who will start Wednesday night against the Pirates because the Cubs juggled their rotation last week. "But (it will be) nice to see everybody there and not worry about having to prepare to pitch and all that stuff."
Lester, who won two World Series with the Red Sox in 2007 and 2013, won't have to face a Boston lineup that leads the American League with a .278 batting average though it has only 11 home runs.
Only Dustin Pedroia (whom Lester contacted shortly after signing with the Cubs in December 2014) and Xander Bogaerts remain in Boston from that 2013 team, so most of the reminiscing will be limited to friendships that Lester and his wife Farrah cultivated during his 8{ seasons with the Red Sox.
"My parents and family are coming," said Lester, who hasn't returned to Boston since he was traded to the A's in July 2014. "There's definitely anticipation to go, but it's more to see the people that I haven't gotten to see in a while and good friends that we still keep in contact with."
Lester fondly recalls his time in the Red Sox organization, including the knowledge and preparation he gained as a minor-leaguer for 4{ seasons.
"Their minor league system helped shape me to be prepared when I got to the big leagues because it's a different place to play," Lester said. "It's a hard place to play. They do a good job preparing guys (so it's) not overwhelming (when guys get called up)."
