The dream season continued for leading AL MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez. The Houston Astros' slugger was named the AL Player of the Week for the third time this year.
There have not been many weeks this season where Alvarez hasn't been the best player in the American League. The 29-year-old is tops in the American League in both home runs (29) and RBI (67), while also second in batting average (.320). If he can keep this up, Alvarez has a good chance to be the first AL Triple Crown winner since Miguel Cabrera in 2012.
This past week, Alvarez went 10-for-23, good enough for a .435 batting average, and also hit four home runs with 11 RBI. The highlight of the week came on Saturday night, when Alvarez blasted his second home run of the night in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk off the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
Alvarez also won the AL Player of the Week award in April and the first week of June this year. This week's win was also the sixth Player of the Week award of his career, tying Jeff Bagwell for the franchise lead. It would come as no surprise to see Alvarez break that record this season with the way he has been hitting the ball.
Deservedly, Alvarez is also the starting designated hitter for the American League in this year's MLB All-Star game. This will be Alvarez's fourth All-Star game nod and second as a starter.
Alvarez's stat line this year is otherworldly. In 90 games, he has a slash line of .320/.429/.637, giving him a 1.065 OPS. Along with his 29 home runs, Alvarez has 62 runs scored, 67 RBI, and a league-leading 207 total bases. After struggling in just 48 games in an injury-riddled season in 2025, Alvarez has more than returned to form, is on pace for the best statistical year of his career, and is the runaway favorite to win the AL MVP award.
