Presley latest to catch bug, scratched due to illness

OAKLAND -- Outfielder Alex Presley was the latest Astros player to come down with flu-like symptoms. Presley was scratched from the lineup shortly before game time Friday and replaced by L.J. Hoes because he was ill.

Several players and members of the staff, including manager Bo Porter, have been sick this season with either flu symptoms or a stomach virus. Porter couldn't get out of bed Monday because of his illness, and Dexter Fowler missed four games in the first week of the season with a stomach virus.

Reliever Chad Qualls, who wasn't at the ballpark Wednesday because he had been vomiting, was available to pitch Friday for the first time since getting sick.

"For the past two and a half days, all I had to eat was two bananas, a kolache and a bowl of soup," Qualls said. "I had a little bit of food last night after the game and halfway through the flight [to San Francisco from Houston], two hours in the flight, I started to get hungry and good starting to sound appetizing again.

"I had half a breakfast burrito today, and it tasted good and went down good. I feel better. I'm still getting over it, but I feel a lot better than I have. That's the worst I've probably felt in my adult life. I was miserable."

Left-hander Brett Oberholtzer, who's scheduled to start Saturday, was asleep on the couch in the clubhouse a couple of hours prior to Friday's game because he didn't feel well, but Porter says he'll be ready.

"It took its course through the clubhouse," Porter said. "Let's hope we don't have anymore."

Porter spoke too soon. Add Presley to the list.