Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Morton will work out of the bullpen moving forward, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
In lieu of re-signing Corbin Burnes or bringing aboard another frontline starter via trade or free agency this offseason, the Orioles brought Morton aboard on a one-year, $15 million deal with the hope that he would serve as a stable contributor in the middle of the rotation. That gambit has backfired, as Father Time appears to have finally caught up with Morton in his age-41 season. The Orioles deployed Morton in bulk relief in his last two appearances with the hope that the arrangement would yield better results, but the right-hander gave up four earned runs on six hits and six walks over six innings between those outings and now owns a 9.45 ERA and 2.17 WHIP for the season. Hyde hasn't closed the door on Morton starting again at some point down the road, but the veteran may need to turn in a few quality low-leverage appearances out of the bullpen before the Orioles insert him back into the rotation.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Trounced again in loss
Rotowire
Morton (0-5) took the loss Sunday against the Reds, allowing seven runs on seven hits and four walks over 2.1 innings with two strikeouts.
The 41-year-old right-hander did not have it again in this 68-pitch outing, getting just seven outs -- his shortest start of the season. Morton has now allowed four or more runs in each of his first five starts. His production has been downright unsightly, as he's posted a 10.89 ERA, 2.23 WHIP and 21:15 K:BB across 20.2 innings. Given how badly Morton has struggled, the Orioles may be contemplating removing him from the rotation. If he makes it, Morton's next start is currently slated to be at Detroit next weekend.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Hit around for five runs
Rotowire
Morton (0-4) allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two in five innings in a loss to the Guardians on Tuesday.
Morton's struggles continued, as he's now given up four-plus earned runs in six straight starts (dating back to the end of last season) for the first time in his 18-year career. Walks in the third contributed to the Guardians' first run of the game and they poured on three more in the fifth, including a two-run homer from Steven Kwan. Morton will continue to stick in the rotation while the Orioles' top two starters are on the shelf. He lines up to face the Reds in Baltimore on Sunday.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Can't find plate in loss
Rotowire
Morton (0-3) took the loss Tuesday, giving up four runs on four hits and five walks over five-plus innings as the Orioles fell 4-3 to the Diamondbacks. He struck out four.
The 41-year-old righty got only 51 of his 87 pitches into the strike zone as his rough start to the campaign continues. Morton has struck out 17 batters in his first 13.1 innings with Baltimore, but he's also walked eight, leading to an 8.78 ERA and 1.88 WHIP. Given the team's injury issues in the rotation, the O's have little choice but to let Morton try to work through his issues. He lines up to make his next trip to the mound at home early next week against the Guardians.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Hit hard early
Rotowire
Morton (0-2) took the loss Thursday against the Red Sox, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out ten.
Morton had the strikeout pitch working Thursday, recording double-digit punchouts for the first time since 2023. However, the veteran right-hander fell victim to the home-run ball early, giving up a pair of two-run homers to Alex Bregman and Kristian Campbell in each of the first two innings. Morton has now given up nine runs through his first two starts (8.1 innings) with Baltimore. He'll look to get in the win column in his next outing, currently scheduled for next week in Arizona.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Takes loss in team debut
Rotowire
Morton (0-1) gave up four runs on seven hits and one walk over 3.1 innings Friday in a loss to the Blue Jays. He had three strikeouts.
The 41-year-old Morton became the oldest starting pitcher to open a game for the Orioles, but aside from that little bit of history, this was one to forget for Morton. He needed 23 pitches to get through the first inning while allowing two hits in the frame and was at 41 pitches after two innings. He was chased out of the game in the fourth inning after surrendering base hits to the first three batters he faced followed by a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly. Morton departed after 80 pitches, and reliever Albert Suarez allowed two of Morton's inherited runners to score, ultimately saddling him with the loss. Baltimore will look to Morton to eat up innings in 2025, and the right-hander has been durable, averaging 174 innings pitched over the last six full regular seasons. He is tentatively lined up for a home start against Boston next week.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Fans four in third spring start
Rotowire
Morton threw three scoreless innings against the Rays in Saturday's Grapefruit League game, striking out four batters.
Morton struck out the side in the top of the first inning, setting down Josh Lowe, Eloy Jimenez and Curtis Mead in order on 14 pitches. He got through the next two innings on 13 total pitches. Morton's fastball was consistently sitting at 94-95 mph, and the 41-year-old has yet to allow a run through six innings of work this spring. With Grayson Rodriguez (triceps) already ruled out for Opening Day, the offseason signing of Morton is even more significant.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Set for spring debut
Rotowire
Morton (illness) is scheduled to start Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The 41-year-old missed some workouts at the start of camp due to an illness, but he'll still make his spring debut for the Orioles within the first few games of camp. Morton joined Baltimore on a one-year, $15 million contract in early January and will be a key rotation piece after posting a 4.19 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 167:65 K:BB across 165.1 innings with Atlanta last year.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Falls ill Thursday
Rotowire
Morton wasn't present for Thursday's full-squad workout due to an illness, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Provided the ailment isn't anything too severe, Morton should resume working out with the Orioles within the next few days. After signing a one-year, $15 million deal with Baltimore over the winter, Morton is expected to open his age-41 season as the Orioles' No. 3 starter behind Grayson Rodriguez and Zach Eflin.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Headed to Baltimore
Rotowire
The Orioles signed Morton to a one-year, $15 million contract Friday.
Morton finished the 2024 regular season having gone 8-10 over 30 starts for Atlanta with a 4.19 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 23.8 percent strikeout rate across 165.1 innings. Despite turning 41 last November, Morton has pitched at least 150 innings in four of the last five seasons and will join an Orioles' rotation that lost Corbin Burnes to the Diamondbacks in free agency.
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Charlie Morton: Planning to pitch in 2025
Rotowire
Morton plans to continue his baseball career in 2025, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The 41-year-old has not yet confirmed it himself, but recent reports had suggested Morton was likely to keep pitching next season rather than retire. Morton's strikeout rate fell to 23.8 percent in 2024, which was the lowest it's been since 2015. He still misses bats at an above-average rate, however, and has made 30-plus starts in each of the last six non-COVID seasons. Morton shouldn't have trouble netting a sizable one-year contract, likely from a contender.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Suffers another loss
Rotowire
Morton (8-10) took the loss Sunday against Kansas City, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks across 4.1 innings. He struck out three.
Morton took the loss for the third time in his last four starts and surrendered four runs for a second consecutive outing. All four runs against the 40-year-old came via the long ball, with Michael Massey lifting a three-run homer in the first inning before Hunter Renfroe notched a solo shot in the fourth. Morton ends the regular season with a 4.19 ERA and a 167:65 K:BB across 165.1 innings spanning 30 starts, and his usage Sunday makes it highly unlikely he would be available in the Wild Card Round should Atlanta make the playoffs.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Will start Sunday
Rotowire
Morton will start for Atlanta in Sunday's series finale against the Royals, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
By having Morton start Sunday, Atlanta has the flexibility to start Chris Sale or Spencer Schwellenbach on Monday against the Mets or Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series. Morton came away with the loss in his last start against the Marlins on Sept. 20, during which he gave up four runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out three over six innings. Over his 29 starts this season, Morton has an 8-9 record with a 4.08 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 164:63 K:BB across 161 innings.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Walks four in loss
Rotowire
Morton (8-9) yielded four runs on seven hits and four walks over six innings Friday, striking out three and taking a loss against Miami.
Morton struggled out of the gate and allowed three runs in the first inning. He kept the Marlins off the board for a few frames before allowing another run in the fifth. He threw 64 of 105 pitches for strikes and forced 12 whiffs, including seven with his curveball. Morton has walked multiple batters in seven straight starts, posting a 44:19 K:BB over 40.1 innings during that span. He now owns a 4.08 ERA with a 164:63 K:BB through 29 starts this season. Morton is projected to make his final regular-season start of 2024 in a home matchup against the Mets next week.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Tosses quality start
Rotowire
Morton did not factor into the decision in Sunday's loss to the Dodgers, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings.
Morton blanked the Dodgers through four innings and allowed just two baserunners. They eventually got one in the fifth off a Shohei Ohtani double after the Dodgers opened up the frame with a single and a walk. Morton now has consecutive quality starts for the first time since July and has a 2.68 ERA over his last seven starts. He's now down to a 4.01 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 161:59 K:BB in 155 innings and lines up for a favorable start against Miami later in the week.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Pitches well in loss
Rotowire
Morton (8-8) took the loss Monday, giving up one run on six hits and two walks over 6.2 innings in a 1-0 loss to the Mets. He struck out seven.
Morton put together one of his better efforts of the season in a losing effort Monday. He pitched into the seventh inning for just the fifth time this season and held the Reds to a single run on an RBI double by Ty France in the third inning. The 40-year-old got lit up for eight runs against the Brewers early in August but has bounced back nicely since then with a 2.88 ERA over his last six starts.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Finishes strong for eighth victory
Rotowire
Morton (8-7) earned the win over Colorado on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out eight batters over five innings.
Morton yielded two hits in a scoreless first inning, then allowed the Rockies to score twice on a walk, a triple and a double in the second. The veteran right-hander pitched much better the rest of the way, surrendering just one hit and two walks while keeping Colorado off the scoreboard across his final three frames. Morton needed 100 pitches to cover five innings and didn't return for the sixth, but he was effective in racking up 13 swinging strikes and eight punchouts. He's allowed three or fewer runs with at least six strikeouts in each of his past five starts but has completed six frames only once during that span.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: One out shy of quality start
Rotowire
Morton allowed three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out seven over 5.2 innings in a no-decision versus Philadelphia on Thursday.
Morton successfully worked around traffic in each of the first five innings, but he got tagged for a three-run home run by Brandon Marsh in the sixth. Morton threw 62 of 105 pitches for strikes, but Atlanta couldn't hold the lead after he exited the game. He's allowed three runs or fewer in six of his eight starts since the All-Star break, though the two exceptions saw him give up seven (five earned) and eight runs in his only two losses in that span. Overall, Morton has a 4.26 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 140:52 K:BB through 137.1 innings across 25 starts this season. The 40-year-old is projected to make his next start at home versus Colorado.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Strikes out six in no-decision
Rotowire
Morton did not factor into the decision in Saturday's win over the Nationals, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks over 5.2 innings while striking out six.
Both runs charged to Morton on the night came across on a two-run homer from Jose Tena in the second inning. The right-hander would then hurl three consecutive scoreless frames before being relieved by Aaron Bummer with two outs in the sixth. It marked the second straight outing in which Morton has been unable to get through six innings, though he's now given up two or fewer runs in each of his last three starts. He's also recorded six or more strikeouts in four of five starts in August, posting a 30:8 K:BB over that stretch.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Rebounds for sixth victory
Rotowire
Morton (6-6) earned the win against Miami on Thursday, allowing an unearned run on five hits and two walks while striking out six batters over six innings.
Morton was mauled for seven runs (five earned) over 2.2 frames in his previous start, but he bounced back nicely against the lowly Marlins, picking up both a win and a quality start. The only run the veteran right-hander allowed was unearned, though the error that led to the tally was a result of his own errant throw. While Morton's strikeout numbers are down this season, he's been able to hold his own against big-league hitters at age 40, posting respectable 3.94 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 112 innings.
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