HOUSTON — Mired in a deep funk at the plate, Brett Gardner did not play against lefty Dallas Keuchel in the team’s 4-0 win Wednesday night. The leadoff hitter and left fielder, hasn’t started three of the past four games in which the Yankees faced a lefty. They aren’t the only pitchers, however, against which Gardner has struggled.
It got to the point he thought bunting with a full count against Justin Verlander on Tuesday night gave him a better chance at a hit than swinging away. He fouled the bunt off and struck out. Gardner said he thought about bunting in the next at-bat, when he struck out swinging on a 3-2 pitch.