Fowler still recovering from bout with flu

HOUSTON - Astros center fielder Dexter Fowler is hoping some home cooking will get him going.

Fowler, who went 2-for-22 on the team's road trip to Toronto and Texas, entered Tuesday hitting .500 (6-for-12) at Minute Maid Park this year. He was 2-for-4 in each of the first three games of the season-opening series against the Yankees before missing all four games of the Angels series with a stomach virus.

"I'm stilling trying to find my legs," he said. "I really don't make excuses. I have been weak and been trying to get my timing and stuff back, and I think that's huge. Getting back to home and getting some rest and all that, it's definitely helping."

Fowler lost eight pounds during his ordeal, and he said he's slowly putting the weight back on. He doubled to right field in his first at-bat Tuesday.

"That's why you play 162 games," Fowler said. "If it were that easy, we'd play half a season and call it a day. It's a grind, and we'll see how it goes at the end of the year."