before the playoffs. He was getting by with smoke and mirrors at least half of that season. Look at his numbers from earlier years and you'll see the trend:

2017: 98.3 (average - frequently topped 100mph)
2018: 96.2
2019: 96.5
2020: 96.8
2021: 95.3

He lost 1.5mph on his fastball in 2021 before getting lit up in the playoffs (WHIP of 2.5 in the NLCS) and then having TJ. He's now averaging 95mph, even slower than in 2021 when he was pitching with a bum elbow that needed surgery at the end of the season.