Tomlin (back) is listed as the starting pitcher for Tuesday's game against the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Tomlin was originally scheduled to pitch Monday, but he experienced a back issue during his first start of the season which prompted the Indians to give him an extra day of rest before his second start. He's good to go ahead of his second start, and the 33-year-old will look to bounce back from a rough season opener that saw him cough up eight runs across just three innings of work.

Manager Terry Francona said Tomlin was dealing with a back issue during his first start of the season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

This explains why his second start of the season was pushed back to Tuesday, giving him an extra day to rest and recover. Francona said the ailment flared up during Tomlin's season debut -- when he was tagged for eight runs on eight hits in just three innings against the Angels -- but the manager didn't seem worried about the issue keeping Tomlin from making any subsequent starts. The hope is that the extra day of rest will help Tomlin bounce back from his brutal first outing.

Tomlin (0-1) got blown up by the Angels on Wednesday, allowing eight runs on eight hits in just three innings, with four strikeouts and a walk in a 13-2 defeat.

EDGE Analysis

It was a rough outing for the 33-year-old as the Angels jumped on him from the get-go with first-inning home runs from Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, eventually tagging him with the eight earned runs and chasing him from the game after three innings. Tomlin has a 4.65 career ERA over his 828.8 career big-league innings, so he pretty much is what he is at this point - a matchup-based streaming option that shouldn't be expected to be a consistently viable contributor to a fantasy pitching staff.

Tomlin (1-1) got the start and the win in Monday's Cactus League showdown with the Giants. In 5.2 innings pitched, he allowed three earned runs on eight hits, while walking none and recording two strike outs.

EDGE Analysis

The 33-year-old pitched in typical fashion Monday, as he struck out only two (6.96 K/9 in 2017) and didn't allow any walks (0.89 BB/9 in 2017) in 5.2 innings pitched. With Danny Salazar (shoulder) likely beginning the year on the disabled list, Tomlin and Ryan Merritt are competing for Cleveland's fifth rotation spot. Neither have particularly impressed this spring, as Tomlin possesses a 6.23 ERA while Merritt sports a 9.31. Spring training performances aside, Tomlin figures to have the leg up on Merritt, due to his experience as a starter and his penchant for eating up innings while limiting walks.

Tomlin is competing with Ryan Merritt for the final spot in the Indians' rotation, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mike Clevinger has leaped Tomlin and secured his spot. There is still a chance Tomlin makes the Opening Day rotation with Danny Salazar (shoulder) expected to miss the start of the season, but he's not being guaranteed anything as of now. Tomlin's lack of dominance (career 6.2 K/9) puts a firm cap on his fantasy upside, but he has the control and team context to be useful as a streamer in deeper formats.

Tomlin is expected to battle for a back-end rotation spot with the Indians during spring training, Zack Meisel of The Athletic Cleveland reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Terry Francona relayed Monday that Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer are locked into spots atop the Cleveland rotation, while Tomlin, Danny Salazar (shoulder), Mike Clevinger and Ryan Merritt are set to battle for the final two starting roles. Of that group, Merritt is considered a long shot to come away with a starting job and is most likely headed to the bullpen, effectively making it a three-man race for two spots. With a fastball that hovers in the upper-80s and an underwhelming repertoire of secondary offerings, Tomlin's skills pale in comparison to those of Salazar and Clevinger, but the Tribe seem to value his ability to eat innings and avoid walks. If Salazar, who is battling right shoulder inflammation and facing an uncertain timetable to the mound, is forced to miss the start of the season, it would allow Francona to temporarily avoid a tough decision on the rotation.

The Indians exercised Tomlin's $3 million option for the 2018 season, The Athletic's Zack Meisel reports.

EDGE Analysis

In an expected move, the club elected to retain the services of Tomlin on a club-friendly option. During the regular season, the right-hander started 26 games, posting a 4.98 ERA and 1.28 WHIP while holding a 109:14 K:BB. He figures to to remain in the back-end of the club's rotation for next year.

Tomlin is tentatively scheduled to start Game 4 of the ALDS against either the Twins or Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Terry Francona said Tomlin will be available out of the bullpen for the first three games of the series, so the Indians could turn elsewhere for a Game 4 starter if he is used in relief before then. Tomlin compiled a 3.52 ERA and 23:2 K:BB in 30.2 innings over six September starts.

Tomlin (10-9) allowed one run on four hits while striking out six batters through 5.1 innings to take the win over the White Sox on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

After lasting just 3.2 innings in his previous start, this was a solid rebound from Tomlin, and he's now allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his past eight starts. However, even with the strong stretch, the 32-year-old veteran finishes the season with an underwhelming 4.98 ERA. While the year-end numbers don't jump off the page, there were multiple runs this season when Tomlin was a solid fantasy asset. Pitching for a contender obviously helps his value, too.

Tomlin lasted just 3.2 frames Tuesday against the Twins, giving up four runs on eight hits. He struck out three without a walk and didn't factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

The soft-tossing righty had put together an eight-game streak of allowing three or fewer runs -- a span in which he posted a 2.74 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 36:3 K:BB -- but that's over now. When you pitch to as much contact as Tomlin does, you always run the risk of outings like this one, so it's not a big surprise that he owns a 5.11 ERA on the season. He lines up to start the Indians' final game of the regular season Sunday against the White Sox.