text: The next day, Gardner started the game with a leadoff home run.Gardner hit a walk-off single on July 29 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. Gardner hit 21 home runs, recording 23 steals and a .264 average as the Yankees made the playoffs and finished one game shy of the World Series. Gardner had a productive postseason, batting .286 with 2 RBI in the American League Division Series versus the Cleveland Indians. He was listed as a Gold Glove finalist, but ultimately lost to Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals. 2018
  Gardner entered the 2018 season as a member of a crowded outfield. However, due to injuries to Jacoby Ellsbury, (who missed the entire 2018 season with various ailments), Clint Frazier, who suffered a concussion in spring training that sidelined him for most of the season, and Aaron Judge (who missed two months with a wrist injury), Gardner saw more playing time than originally expected, appearing in 140 games. He finished the season batting .236 (his worst average since 2008), with 12 home runs and 45 RBI. 