Tanaka in need of a rebound

HOUSTON — Two bullpen sessions followed Masahiro Tanaka’s brutal outing against the Tigers last Sunday at Yankee Stadium as he attempted to correct a few mechanical flaws.

“I did go to the bullpen to work on things a bit,’’ said Tanaka, who was punished for seven runs (five earned) and 10 hits in five innings by the Tigers. “Just mechanics and try to get straightened out.’’

Considering that Tanaka, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia got spanked in consecutive starts, the Yankees need Tanaka to rebound after he allowed a career high three homers and tying career highs in runs, earned runs and hits.

“Obviously we need him to bounce back, we need him to be a staple in our rotation,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of the righthander, who is 43 with a 3.17 ERA. “The start against the Tigers was really tough. No location, he couldn’t locate the fastball and the splitter was up in the zone. It happens and when a guy of his caliber it happens to it’s actually a little bit of a shock.’’ ➤ Girardi didn’t put Alex

Rodriguez the lineup Friday against Astros righthander Vincent Velasquez, when the Yankees won 32. That’s despite the DH being among the Yankees’ hottest hitters.

“Just a day off,” said Girardi, who used switchhitter

Carlos Beltran as the DH. “You try to pick strategically and how it works with everyone else and I thought today was the best way to do it. After today we are going to see three out of four lefties.’’

➤ Jacoby Ellsbury arrived in Houston on Friday night and will work out Saturday. How the center fielder and leadoff hitter runs will determine when he starts a minor league rehab assignment.

➤ After two days of playing catch, Andrew Miller rested and will resume throwing Saturday.