ST. LOUIS -- When Dexter Fowler watched video of Rockies starter Tim Melville before Thursday¡¯s game at Coors Field, he knew Melville wouldn¡¯t throw a lot of fastballs to Cardinals hitters.

So when Melville threw the first pitch of the game and it was a fastball, Fowler jumped on it for a leadoff home run in the Cardinals¡¯ eventual 10-3 win. Including that home run, Fowler reached base eight times between St. Louis' games on Wednesday and Thursday, going 4-for-5 with four walks. He followed that up by walking three times and scoring twice in the Cardinals' 10-0 win on Friday.

Back in the leadoff spot he had slipped out of over his first two seasons with the Cardinals, Fowler is hitting like he¡¯s used to hitting, and it¡¯s helping the National League Central leaders more than ever. On Thursday, he said that he¡¯s more comfortable in the leadoff spot because of the familiarity that comes with it.

¡°I¡¯ve been doing it my whole career,¡± Fowler said. ¡°Any time you have to adapt to a new role, it¡¯s tough. But I feel comfortable being back in the leadoff spot. ¡­ Like I said before the season started, as long as I can get at-bats and get in there all the time, I¡¯m happy.¡±

Fowler was moved to the leadoff spot on Aug. 6. Since then, the Cardinals have won 22 of 34 games and are 19-11 with Fowler atop the lineup. His slash line before Aug. 6 was .244/.340/.411, and since then it is .282/.388/.487.

But Fowler¡¯s production at the top is more than just the numbers. It has helped stabilized the rest of the lineup, as well.

¡°It¡¯s about the situation and how the situation presents itself,¡± Fowler said. ¡°Being leadoff, you want to get on base for these guys [Paul Goldschmidt and Marcell Ozuna] to drive you in. That¡¯s all I¡¯m trying to do.¡±

The other part of Fowler¡¯s performance is his health. He missed the end of last season because of a foot fracture and parts of 2017 with injuries. But his health in 2019 shows in his results.

¡°This is a game that requires your physical and mental health,¡± Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. ¡°If you¡¯re dinged up in either one of them, you¡¯re going to be compromised. It¡¯s part of the game we get, but when you¡¯re not at your physical best, you¡¯re not going to perform at your best.¡±

It¡¯s almost hockey season

The Cardinals might be gearing up for the most important time of the year, but they¡¯re also gearing up for hockey season. The Stanley Cup-champion Blues start their training camp Friday, so the Cardinals -- many who are avid Blues fans -- wore jerseys with the Blues logo on them for batting practice.

Fans will received a hockey sweater giveaway Friday night at Busch Stadium, too.

Twelve Blues players were recognized before the game, and defenseman Colton Parayko threw out the first pitch as ¡°Gloria,¡± the Blues¡¯ postseason theme song, played in the background.