Astros Manager Joe Espada Confirms Joey Loperfido Is Starting In Outfield

Manager Joe Espada joins The Matt Thomas Show ahead of the Houston Astros hosting the Cleveland Guardians for a three-game series starting Tuesday. Following a day off and back-to-back wins against the Colorado Rockies in Mexico City, the Astros are returning home looking to earn a series win and begin moving out of the last spot in the American League West. "We wanted to use Mexico as a little reset button" and the message to the team is "let's not be complacent." After the pair of wins in Mexico City, news broke that the Astros would be calling-up prospect Joey Loperfido who recorded his 13th homerun of the season for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Sunday. "We didn't bring [Loperfido] up here to sit...he'll start tonight in the outfield," Espada said. "He needs to do the things that got him here." As Loperfido joins the Astros, a corresponding roster change needs to be made for his Major League debut; however, Espada could not specify which player would be moved. Espada also discusses the possibilities at the DH position when Yordan Álvarez plays in left field, Alex Bregman batting second in the lineup and Hunter Brown getting "over the hump."