Royals Data Dugout takes stock of the Royals bullpen arms, including a former castoff helping a strong second-half showing from the relief corps.

Clarke, whose best fWAR in a season is 0.7 back in 2022 with KC, has racked up 0.5 fWAR in the second half of 2025 alone. Since the All-Star Game, he’s pitched 16.1 innings with a 0.55 ERA and 0.49 WHIP. The right-hander has struck out 32.7% of opposing hitters while walking just 3.6%. While Clarke hasn’t made any major shifts in his pitch usage or underlying metrics (like zone rate or chase rate), hitters are simply not squaring him up like they did at earlier points in the season. His average exit velocity allowed is down to 88.2 MPH in August. Clarke hasn’t allowed a barrel since July 11. Hitters’ xBA cratered to .228 in July and .233 in Augu

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