​Yordan Alvarez has been named the starting DH for the American League in this year’s All-Star Game. In a season full of disappointments for the Astros, Alvarez has been the one constant. A well deserved honor for the Astros’ rock.His 2026 Numbers, per MLB:AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement.318 batting average, 31 home runs, 70 RBI, 1.059 OPS heading into the breakLeads the AL in virtually every offensive categoryHis 31 home runs are among the best marks in franchise history at this point in the seasonThe Moments That Defined His First HalfThere have been a lot of them. Alvarez hit a grand slam against the Twins on June 30 that capped a six run comeback when the Astros needed it most. He then followed that up with a two homer game on the Fourth of July against the Rays, including his 29th of the season to seal the win. Then on July 10 against the Rangers he hit his 200th career home run, a 455-foot shot at Globe Life Field, one of six homers he has hit there this season alone. Every time the Astros needed a big moment, Alvarez delivered.Why He Is the MVP FrontrunnerAlvarez leads the AL in OPS, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and total bases, and has carried this team through a brutal stretch of injuries and inconsistency.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Astros are 47-51 heading into the break, but Alvarez has done everything he can. A healthy second half with some trade deadline additions around him could make this team genuinely dangerous. The lineup is better when everyone is healthy, and Alvarez is at the center of it.