WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – World Baseball Network was on-site at CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches and caught up with Houston Astros manager Joe Espada ahead of his team’s spring training matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals. Espada discussed the Astros’ lineup depth, Altuve’s transition to left field, pitching evaluations, and key relievers expected to handle high-leverage situations. WBN recapped Houston’s 1-1 tie with St. Louis, highlighted top performers, and assessed international-born players on both teams.
Houston sits at 9-9-1 in Grapefruit League play following Wednesday’s 1-1 tie with St. Louis, which moved the Cardinals to 8-11-1.
Espada, 49, from Santurce, Puerto Rico, enters his second season as Houston’s manager after leading the Astros to an 88-73 record and an American League West title in 2024, finishing three and a half games ahead of the Seattle Mariners at 85-77.
Before taking over as manager, Espada served as Houston’s bench coach from 2018 to 2023. He also coached for Puerto Rico in the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics, helping the team reach back-to-back finals before falling to the Dominican Republic in 2013 and the United States in 2017.
Espada led Houston to the American League Wild Card Series in his first season as manager, but the Detroit Tigers swept the Astros after a strong 2024 regular season.
He served as Houston’s bench coach from 2018 to 2023 before being promoted to manager on November 18, 2023, following Dusty Baker’s retirement.
During his first managerial game on April 1, 2024, Espada earned his first career victory in dramatic fashion—behind a no-hitter thrown by starting pitcher Ronel Blanco. That marked the 17th no-hitter in Astros history and made Espada the first manager in Major League Baseball history to earn his first win via a no-hitter.
Espada faces key roster decisions for the 2025 season, particularly at third base following Alex Bregman’s departure. Houston acquired Isaac Paredes, who will take over the hot corner and provide defensive stability.
The Astros must also adjust their rotation without right-hander Jose Urquidy. Veterans Framber Valdez, Ronel Blanco, Cristian Javier, Spencer Arrighetti, and Lance McCullers Jr. are among the favorites to start the season in the rotation.
Houston’s front office will also evaluate rotation depth with Hayden Wesneski, J.P. France, Hunter Brown, and Luis Garcia fighting for a roster spot ahead of Opening Day.
Houston also won 10-5 in a split-squad game against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., on March 13.
Ronel Blanco pitched 3.2 innings, allowing seven hits, four earned runs, and one walk while striking out four. He surrendered a solo home run to Eric Wagaman in the second inning.
Astros catcher Cesar Salazar rocked a grand slam over the right-center field wall, his second homer of the spring, as Houston scored eight runs during the frame.
Colin Price added a solo homer to left-center, also his second of the spring, capping off the first-inning outburst.
The Astros continue Grapefruit League play on March 14, hosting the Toronto Blue Jays at CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches at 6:05 p.m. EDT. Earlier in the day, Houston’s prospects will face Nationals prospects in a Spring Breakout game at 2:05 p.m. EDT at the same venue.
Top Performers From Wednesday, March 13 In West Palm Beach
Houston right-hander Tayler Scott struck out the side in the fifth, fanning Nolan Gorman on a 2-2 swinging strikeout, freezing Thomas Saggese on a called third strike, and getting Michael Siani to chase a 1-2 pitch for the final out.
Bryan Abreu entered in the fourth and issued a leadoff walk to Brendan Donovan before inducing a 6-3 double play from Ivan Herrera and retiring Alec Burleson on a groundout to second to end the inning.
Yordan Alvarez cracked an RBI single to left in the third, scoring Jose Altuve to tie the game at 1-1.
Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti pitched three innings, allowing two hits, one earned run, one walk, and striking out four.
Cardinals left-hander Steven Matz went 4.2 innings, giving up two hits, one earned run, two walks, alongside three strikeouts.
St. Louis scored its only run in the third when Lars Nootbaar drilled a triple to center, bringing home Michael Siani.
St. Louis Cardinals International Born Players Listed On 40-Man Roster For Spring Training
St. Louis Cardinals international-born players on the 40-man roster for spring training include Willson Contreras and Pedro Pages from Venezuela, Roddery Munoz and Jose Fermin from the Dominican Republic, Ivan Herrera from Panama, Matt Koperniak from the United Kingdom, and Brendan Donovan from Germany.
International-Born Spring Training & Overall Stats for Houston Astros
RHP – Bryan Abreu – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Abreu has made four spring training appearances, throwing four scoreless innings with three hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. In 2024, he posted a 3.10 ERA with a 3-3 record over 78 appearances, earning one save while striking out 103 batters in 78.1 innings. Over six MLB seasons, he has a 2.75 ERA with 13 wins, eight losses, and nine saves across 247 total appearances.
RHP – Ronel Blanco – Santiago, Dominican Republic
Blanco has started two games this spring, allowing three earned runs over 3.1 innings with five strikeouts. In 2024, he recorded a 13-6 record with a 2.80 ERA in 30 appearances, including 29 starts, one complete game, and one shutout. Over three MLB seasons, he holds a 3.31 ERA with a 15-7 record in 54 total appearances.
RHP – Luis Contreras – Maracaibo, Venezuela
Contreras has been effective in spring training, pitching 5.1 scoreless innings across five appearances while allowing three hits and striking out seven. As a rookie in 2024, he struggled with a 9.00 ERA in five appearances, striking out six batters in six innings.
RHP – Luis Garcia – Barinitas, Venezuela