#Braves vs. Phillies prediction: Josh Tomlin’s rotation return will fuel Atlanta

A second chance sometimes is not given to a starter who gets relegated to the bullpen during the middle of his career, but the Atlanta Braves are giving Josh Tomlin that opportunity, and he will look to seize it Sunday.

Tomlin primarily has been used as a reliever the past two-plus seasons but made his first start of 2020 against the Washington Nationals on Aug. 18, giving up two runs in four innings. His splits as a starter verses a reliever are very similar, posting a career 4.67 ERA and 1.207 WHIP as a starter and a 4.53 ERA and 1.262 WHIP out of the bullpen.

He faces off with Zach Eflin, who has a 5.52 ERA to go with 3.05 walks and 1.9 home runs per nine innings in his past 22 appearances. Eflin is backed by a Phillies bullpen that entered Saturday with a 7.97 ERA, by far the worst in MLB.

The Braves had the No. 6 bullpen ERA in MLB and had scored at least four runs in eight of their past 11 games entering Saturday. The motivation of a second chance for Tomlin coupled with a consistent offense and a massive bullpen advantage should lead the Braves to a win Sunday night.

The play: Braves, -125.