BOSTON (AP) - David Wells will return to the Boston Red Sox's rotation on Monday and start against the Cleveland Indians, manager Terry Francona said Friday.
Wells hasn't pitched since sustaining a bruise below his right knee when he was hit by a line drive on May 26 against Tampa Bay. But he did well enough in a five-inning simulated game on Monday that the team decided not to send him on a minor-league rehab start and use him in the majors instead.
The return of the 43-year-old left-hander on the night of baseball's trading deadline would bolster a Red Sox rotation that has struggled to replace him and fellow injured starters Tim Wakefield, Matt Clement and Lenny DiNardo.
Wells had off-season surgery on his right knee and began the season on the 15-day disabled list. He was activated before the eighth game of the year and was the losing pitcher April 12 in an 8-4 loss to Toronto, then returned to the DL two days later with a sprained knee.
In two appearances this season, he is 0-1 with an 8.64 ERA.