The 2026 season for the Houston Astros has been a bit strange, as they began the year with a very poor record. But now, as July is rolling along, they’re just 1.5 games out of the AL Wild Card with a 46-48 record.
More importantly, the Astros are 2.0 games out of the AL West lead, and it wouldn’t be shocking if they took the division lead at some point. A big reason why they’ve been able to mount such a comeback is thanks to Yordan Alvarez.
ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle, amid calling Alvarez the Astros’ “First-half MVP,” also shared two reasons why he has a legitimate case to be the AL MVP this season, and should be the frontrunner: the Astros comeback, and Alvarez’s chances at a Triple Crown.
Why Astros’ Yordan Alvarez should be AL MVP favorite
“With the Astros charging back into playoff contention and Alvarez a real candidate to win a Triple Crown, his path to AL MVP seems clear,” Doolittle writes.
Alvarez has posted 3.9 bWAR, 105 hits, 62 runs scored, 16 doubles, 29 homers, 67 RBIs, a .313 batting average, and a 1.041 OPS during the 2026 season so far across 92 games.
For the Triple Crown, Alvarez would have to lead all AL hitters in batting average, home runs, and RBIs. Right now, his .313 average is second only to Yandy Diaz at .319. The next-closest hitter is Ernie Clement at .298.
In home runs, Alvarez is the AL leader with 29, with Ben Rice and Junior Caminero at 26 being the next closest hitters. For RBIs, Alvarez at 67 is just ahead of Nick Kurtz at 66.
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If Alvarez can keep his lead in RBIs and home runs, and make up some ground with his batting average, or Diaz struggles for a while and falls behind, then the Astros DH could win the Triple Crown this season.
Miguel Cabrera won the AL MVP when he got the Triple Crown in 2012, so Alvarez should be the MVP if he accomplishes such a feat this season.
And if the Astros manage to make it into a postseason spot? Then Alvarez has an even clearer path to the AL MVP this season. The best hitter in baseball on a postseason team is typically the MVP.
Not only is Alvarez a legitimate MVP candidate as he is right now, but if the Astros can actually get into a postseason spot and Alvarez wins the Triple Crown, he should also be the AL MVP favorite this season.