Despite a hot spring, Wells has gotten off to a slow start and is slashing just .213/.275/.450 on the season with 15 RBI. However, today is a good reminder of what he’s capable of doing, and we saw last season that he will endure some cold streaks over the course of a long season. We’d still be holding in almost all league types.

Wells is back handling the catching duties and batting third for Saturday’s showdown against the Rays after missing two straight games due to food poisoning.

Yankees’ skipper Aaron Boone had said that Thursday’s absence was a scheduled day off and not related. The expectation is that he’ll be feeling better and should be able to return to the Yankees’ lineup in a day or two. J.C. Escarra will draw another start behind the plate and will bat sixth against Drew Rasmussen and the Rays on Friday night.

Wells drove in the Yankees’ first run in the ballgame as he worked a bases-loaded walk off of Angel Zerpa with two outs in the sixth inning. He then raced around to score on a three-run double by Jasson Domínguez. The overall slash line looks putrid at .196/.276/.451 to start the season, but the 25-year-old backstop has at least contributed three long balls and eight RBI.