Braves' Charlie Morton: Gets 2024 option picked up
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Atlanta exercised Morton's $20 million team option for the 2024 season on Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
According to Passan, the organization had some uncertainty at bringing Morton back for his age-40 season at a sizable salary, but the veteran right-hander will ultimately stick around in Atlanta for what could be his final campaign in the big leagues. Though his 11.6 percent walk rate in 2023 represented his worst mark since his rookie campaign, Morton struck out more than a quarter of the batters he faced for the third season in a row and was able to suppress home runs (0.77 HR/9). Even in the twilight of his career, Morton still looks like a strong mid-to-back-end rotation arm, and his fantasy outlook is made more promising by the fact that he'll be back by one of the top offenses in baseball.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Throws bullpen session
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Morton (finger) threw a bullpen session Friday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Morton's mound session seemingly went smoothly, but he won't be eligible to return until the NLCS after being placed on the IL on Sept. 24 with inflammation in his right index finger. Nonetheless, the 39-year-old righty is showing signs of progress and may be able to contribute to Atlanta's postseason run if the team manages to get past Philadelphia in the NLDS.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Lands on injured list
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Morton was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with right index finger inflammation.
The right-hander suffered the injury during Friday's start against the Nationals and will finish the regular season on the IL. Morton is now likely to be unavailable through at least the NLDS, as he won't be eligible to be activated until after the roster for that series needs to be set. However, he could be reinstated mid-series if Atlanta places another player on the IL. Allan Winans was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move and will start Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader in Washington.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Sent for MRI on finger
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Morton will undergo an MRI on Saturday after leaving his start Friday at Washington with right index finger discomfort, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Morton felt something in his right index finger while throwing a curveball in the bottom of the first inning and was replaced by Michael Tonkin before the bottom of the second. X-rays were negative for any fractures, but Morton may be dealing with some sort of ligament or tendon issue -- for now, it's being called a sprain. This injury could mark the end of his regular season if it's at all severe, though he still might be a possibility for the NLDS. His final regular-season start was slated to come in next week's series in Atlanta against the Cubs.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Exits with finger discomfort
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Morton was removed from his start Friday at Washington due to right index finger discomfort.
Morton looked a little off while issuing two walks in the first inning and was replaced by Michael Tonkin before the bottom of the second. The 39-year-old right-hander didn't allow any hits or runs and tallied one strikeout prior to his early departure.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Lit up by Marlins
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Morton (14-12) allowed six runs on six hits and five walks over 4.2 innings Sunday. He struck out five and took a loss against Miami.
Morton kept the Marlins off the board for two innings before coughing up five runs in the third, including Jazz Chisholm's grand slam. After yielding three runs during a five-start stretch, Morton has been tagged with 10 runs in his last two appearances. His season ERA has climbed to 3.66 with a 182:81 K:BB through 162.1 frames. Morton's next start is lined up to be in Washington.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Strikes out nine in six innings
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Morton did not factor into the decision in Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against the Phillies, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks over six innings while striking out nine.
The four runs allowed were one more than Morton had allowed in his previous five starts combined. Despite subpar effort, Morton was in line for the win, but the bullpen allowed four runs over the next three innings to allow the Phillies to send the game into extras. The 39-year-old Morton is tied for fifth in the majors in wins with 14 and holds a 3.42 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP and 177 strikeouts over 157.2 innings. His next start is scheduled to take place over the weekend in Miami against the Marlins.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Labors through four innings
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Morton (14-11) allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three over four innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Dodgers.
Morton needed 90 pitches (52 strikes) to get through four frames, making Sunday's outing his shortest start since July 25. Prior to this poor start, he'd allowed just one run while striking out 33 over 24 innings across his last four starts combined. The right-hander is now at a 3.32 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 168:72 K:BB through 151.2 innings over 27 starts this season. Morton is projected to make his next start at home versus the Pirates.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Picks up 14th victory
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Morton (14-10) earned the win Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over six innings against Colorado. He struck out eight.
Morton turned in another strong outing Tuesday and has now strung together a handful of impressive starts, posting a 0.38 ERA and 33:11 K:BB over his last four appearances (24 innings). He'll look to keep the ball rolling in his next start, which is tentatively lined up to come against the Dodgers this weekend.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Dominant in win over Mets
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Morton (13-10) allowed two hits and a walk while striking out 11 over seven shutout innings to earn the win Wednesday over the Mets.
Morton has thrown 18 scoreless innings over his last three starts, and he's record double-digit strikeouts in each of his last two outings. Wednesday's effort was his best work this season. He's trimmed his ERA from 3.86 on Aug. 6 to 3.37 now, and he's added a 1.38 WHIP and 157:67 K:BB through 141.2 innings across 25 starts. The 39-year-old right-hander is lined up for a road start in Colorado next week.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Fans 10 in dominant outing
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Morton (12-10) earned the win over the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out 10 batters over six scoreless innings.
Morton was sharp in the start, at one point retiring 10 straight batters and never allowing a runner to reach third base. The veteran racked up 15 swinging strikes and tied a season high with 10 punchouts while recording his second straight scoreless appearance. In his previous start -- a win over the Mets -- Morton walked seven batters, but he was much more in control Wednesday, issuing just one free pass. He's showing that he still has gas in the tank in his age-39 campaign, holding a 3.54 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 146:66 K:BB through 134.2 innings.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Victorious in strange outing
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Morton (11-10) allowed three hits and seven walks over five scoreless innings Friday, striking out four and earning a win over the Mets.
Morton threw just 52 of 105 pitches for strikes and struggled with his command all night, but New York couldn't take advantage. He'd coughed up 16 runs over his previous four starts but dropped his ERA back down to 3.71 after Friday's win. Since the start of July, the veteran right-hander's recorded a 3.50 ERA with a 36:26 K:BB through 43.2 innings. Morton's expected to face the Yankees at home next week.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Fans eight in loss
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Morton (10-9) took the loss against the Angels on Monday, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out eight batters over six innings.
Morton allowed plenty of traffic on the basepaths, but it was the long ball that did him in -- all three runs against the veteran came on solo home runs. Despite his trouble keeping the ball in the park, Morton was able to turn in a respectable outing, racking up 23 swinging strikes and eight punchouts while picking up his ninth quality start of the campaign. The 39-year-old has lost each of his past three starts, but he's been an asset overall this season, collecting 10 wins while posting a 3.62 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 128:54 K:BB over 119.1 innings.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Bounced by BoSox
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Morton (10-8) took the loss Tuesday, giving up four runs on six hits and five walks over 3.2 innings as Atlanta fell 7-1 to the Red Sox. He struck out only one.
Rain delayed the start of the game by over an hour and a half, and Morton was clearly out of sync when he finally got on the mound, tossing only 47 of 80 pitches and issuing a season-high five free passes before getting the hook. The 39-year-old right-hander's 1.42 WHIP on the year is his worst mark since his days with the Pirates over a decade ago, but Morton has been able to maintain a respectable 3.57 ERA thanks to a 47.1 percent GB% and 10.2 percent HR/FB%. He'll try to rebound in his next outing, which is likely to come at home early next week against the Angels.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Falters against Diamondbacks
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Morton (10-7) took the loss against Arizona on Wednesday, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four batters over 5.2 innings.
Morton had notched a victory in each of his previous five appearances coming into Wednesday, but that streak came to an end again Arizona. The veteran hurler surrendered his most runs since the Mets tagged him for four nearly six weeks ago, though he did manage to keep the ball in the park for the fourth time in his past five outings. Morton's season 1.37 WHIP is in line to be his worst over a full season since 2015, but he's still managed to put together a strong campaign with a 3.36 ERA and 119:46 K:BB over 109.2 frames through 19 starts.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Tosses seven shutout frames
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Morton (10-6) allowed three hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings Friday, striking out four and earning a win over the White Sox.
Morton has given up one earned run or fewer in four of his last six outings, posting a terrific 1.77 ERA during that span. After going a month between wins earlier in the year, the veteran righty has been victorious in five consecutive starts. Morton will carry a 3.20 ERA into his next outing, which is currently scheduled to come at home against Arizona next week.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Picks up ninth win
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Morton (9-6) earned the win Friday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over 6.1 innings against the Rays. He struck out six.
Morton notched his seventh quality start and earned his ninth win Friday. Since allowing six runs to the Dodgers on May 22, the veteran right-hander has been solid, posting a 3.22 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and11.5 K/9 over his past eight appearances (44.1 innings). If Morton can stay healthy in the second half of the season, he'll have a chance to approach his career-high marks (16 wins, 3.05 ERA, 240 strikeouts and 194.2 innings) from his stellar 2019 campaign with Tampa Bay.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Blanks Miami for third straight win
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Morton (8-6) picked up the win in Saturday's 7-0 shutout of the Marlins, allowing four hits and a walk over 5.2 scoreless innings. He struck out five.
Atlanta's offense once again ambushed the opposition, scoring six runs in the first inning, and Morton cruised from there. The veteran righty has won three straight starts despite some inefficiency on his part, as he's completed six innings just once in his last eight outings, posting a 4.36 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 56:22 K:BB through 43.1 innings over that stretch. He'll take the mound one more time before the All-Star break for what's likely to be a road start next weekend in Tampa Bay.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Collects seventh win
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Morton (7-6) earned the win Sunday over the Reds, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out seven in five innings.
Morton wasn't at his best Sunday, but it was enough to get the job done. He's completed at least five innings in six of his last seven starts, but he's gotten through six frames just once in that span. The 39-year-old is at a 3.81 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 100:39 K:BB through 85 innings across 15 starts this season. His 4.1 BB/9 is his highest since 2016, but he's managed to put up steady numbers anyway. Morton is lined up to make his next start at home versus the Marlins.
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Braves' Charlie Morton: Picks up sixth win
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Morton (6-6) earned the win Sunday, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks over five innings against Colorado. He struck out eight.
Morton got off to a shaky start, allowing five runs in the first two innings. However, he'd hold the Rockies at bay from there as Atlanta eventually rallied to win 14-6. The 39-year-old Morton has logged eight or more strikeouts in five of his last seven starts. He now sports a 3.71 ERA with a 1.45 WHIP and 93:36 K:BB through 14 starts (80 innings) this season. He's slated for a road matchup with the Reds in his next outing.
