Josh

Tomlin

Tomlin served as an innings-eater for the Braves during the regular season and will head to free agency after posting an underwhelming 6.57 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 37/5 K/BB ratio across 49 1/3 innings (35 appearances). It’s possible that he winds up back with the reigning World Series champions on a minor-league deal this offseason.

Tomlin struggled in his lone rehab outing earlier this month at Triple-A Gwinnett and holds a rough 6.57 ERA in 35 appearances this year with Atlanta, but he could maybe return to action and cover some innings in the final weekend of the regular season. The veteran right-hander has been out since late August due to a neck strain.

Tomlin has been out since late August due to a neck strain. The 36-year-old righty holds an inflated 6.57 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 37/5 K/BB ratio across 49 1/3 innings (35 appearances) this season.

Edgar Santana will fill the vacant bullpen spot on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Tomlin leaves behind an ugly 6.85 ERA in 47 1/3 innings of relief this year with the Braves.

The deal includes a $1.25 million club option (or $250,000 buyout) for the 2022 season. Tomlin made five starts and 12 relief appearances for Atlanta during MLB’s condensed 2020 campaign, finishing with a 4.76 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 36/8 K/BB ratio in 39 2/3 total innings of work. He then surrendered three earned runs over 2 2/3 innings of relief in the playoffs. The 36-year-old is likely to serve as a swingman again in 2021.

The veteran right-hander walked one and struck out two on the evening. The Nationals jumped on him in the first inning, as Juan Soto delivered a two-run double and Eric Thames followed with an RBI single. They tacked on another pair in the third. Tomlin will look to get back on track when he brings a 4.68 ERA and 1.22 WHIP into Wednesday’s start against the Orioles in Baltimore.

Tomlin didn’t issue a walk, and fanned two. The right-hander allowed an RBI single in the second to Eric Thames, but wasn’t challenged outside of that frame in one of his best starts as a member of the Braves. “One of’ is probably an understatement. The 35-year-old lowers his season ERA to a solid -- if unspectacular -- 3.77 mark, with a 26/6 K/BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings. He faces the Nationals again on Friday.

Ynoa has made a couple spot starts this season but didn’t go deeper than 2 1/3 innings in them. He probably won’t be ready for more than three innings Friday. Josh Tomlin will be pushed back to Sunday and Ian Anderson will start Monday with an extra day of rest.

In hindsight, Braves manager Brian Snitker probably wishes he didn’t send Tomlin out for a fifth inning. The veteran right-hander did just fine through four, but the only batter he retired in the fifth was on a sac bunt, with Rhys Hoskins knocking him out of the game with a three-run shot. The home run ball has done Tomlin in in each of his last two starts (both against the Phillies), which is nothing new for him. He’s a less than desirable play his next time out versus the Nationals.

Tomlin entered the outing with a 2.35 ERA for the season and watched it balloon all the way to 3.93. He tallied five strikeouts and didn’t issue a walk, but the Phillies got to him for six hits, three of which were home runs. The 35-year-old right-hander is lined up for a rematch with Philadelphia next time through.