Tyler was a solid starter for the Braves, but when they finished in last in 1912, he went 12-22 and led the NL in losses. As the Braves improved under manager George Stallings, so did Tyler; he went 16-17 in 1913 but finished first in the NL in complete games (28) and had a 2.79 ERA. He was the number-three starter on the 1914 “Miracle Braves” and was 16-14 with a 2.69 ERA and two saves. His best year for the Braves was 1916, when his six shutouts tied him for second in the league and he was 17-10.
Tyler’s finest season came with the 1918 NL champion Cubs. He was 19-9 and tied for first in shutouts (8), second in wins, and fourth in winning percentage; his 2.00 ERA was second in the league, and he finished fourth in complete games and strikeouts. He was almost the hero of the World Series against Boston. He won Game Two 3-1 on a six-hitter, and had a two-run single. He took a tough no-decision in Game Four, giving up two runs on three hits in seven innings. And in the deciding Game Six, he lost 2-1 on two unearned runs. For the Series, his .200 average (1-for-5) ranked sixth on the club.
Tyler won a 2-1, 21-inning game from the Phillies on July 17, 1918, scattering 13 hits and just one walk while going the distance, tied for fourth all-time in the NL for innings pitched in one game. He had ten complete-game 1-0 victories in his career.
A sore arm sidelined him in 1919, but the extraction of several teeth enabled him to last another full season. He also umpired in the minors for 12 years. A good enough hitter that he played 11 games at first base in 1917 and was sometimes used as a pinch hitter (9-for-39 lifetime in that role), he hit just .217 for his career but batted above .260 twice and had three HR in 1916. His brother, Fred Tyler, caught six games for the Braves in 1914.
