Yordan Alvarez gave Houston Astros fans plenty to celebrate during an MVP-caliber regular season.

Before Houston’s Wild Card Series against the Chicago White Sox, he revealed two changes that helped make it possible: a different diet and a trainer who accompanied him on road trips.

Asked during his MLB postseason media availability whether he changed his offseason preparation to help stay healthy, Alvarez explained that his approach extended beyond training before the season.

“Yes, I did a lot of stuff different that worked. Part of that is I changed my diet, and I also had a trainer that traveled with me on the away trips to the different cities that we went to,” Alvarez said. “So, yeah, there was a couple of things I did different.”

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The results were meaningful for both Alvarez and his team. He played a career-high 158 games and finished with a .316 batting average, 42 home runs and 106 RBIs. His availability gave the Astros a dependable offensive force throughout a season that ended with them clinching the AL West on the final day.

That durability also strengthened his case for a first American League MVP award. Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero is another prominent contender, but Alvarez’s importance to Houston is difficult to overlook. The Astros finished 81-81, leaving little room to imagine them surviving a lengthy absence from their most dangerous hitter.

Alvarez did not detail the dietary adjustments or his trainer’s routine, but his answer offered a glimpse into the work behind his season. Staying available allowed his production to become a daily advantage for a team that needed every contribution to reach the playoffs. Every single one.

Now Houston needs that advantage against Chicago. The best-of-three series begins Tuesday at home, where Alvarez will command attention from White Sox pitchers and Astros fans alike. His regular season has already put him in the MVP conversation; a healthy postseason gives him another opportunity to carry Houston back to the Fall Classic.