Orioles' Charlie Morton: Delivers quality start vs. Mets
Rotowire
Morton did not factor into the decision in the opening game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Mets, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out six.
Morton was able to work through traffic Thursday, ultimately allowing a lone run in the fifth inning in an eventual 3-1 Baltimore win. The 41-year-old right-hander has turned things around after a brutal start to the season, posting a 2.72 ERA in his last seven outings (36.1 innings). Overall, Morton's ERA sits at 5.18 with a 1.52 WHIP and 88:38 K:BB across 83.1 innings this year.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Fans seven in revenge game
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Morton (5-7) picked up the win Friday, giving up two runs on six hits and a walk over 5.1 innings in a 3-2 victory over Atlanta. He struck out seven.
Facing the team he spent the last four seasons with, Morton generated 33 called or swinging strikes among his 97 pitches (66 total strikes) as he won his fifth straight decision. The 41-year-old righty hasn't been saddled with a loss since returning to the rotation at the end of May, going 5-0 over his last seven trips to the mound with a 2.97 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 44:11 K:BB through 36.1 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Mets.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Next start coming Friday
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Morton's next start has been pushed back from Tuesday in Texas to Friday in Atlanta due to low-grade right elbow tendinitis, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Brandon Young will draw a spot start Tuesday in Morton's place. While the Orioles are optimistic that Morton will be ready to go after a few extra days of rest, he will likely need to get through a bullpen session this week before being cleared to start Friday.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: One rough inning in no-decision
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Morton didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Rangers, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out three.
The veteran righty held Texas in check for four of his five frames, but he was lucky escape the fourth inning with only three runs on his ledger, as some shaky Baltimore defense kept the snowball rolling after he issued a leadoff walk to Corey Seager. The three strikeouts were Morton's lowest total since a relief appearance May 10, and over six starts since rejoining the rotation, he's gone 4-0 while posting a 2.90 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 37:10 K:BB through 31 innings. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next outing, which lines up to be a rematch with the Rangers next week in Texas.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Sharp again for fourth win
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Morton (4-7) allowed one run on six hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over six innings to earn the win Thursday over the Rays.
Morton gave up the opening run, a Danny Jansen RBI single in the third inning, but that was it. This was Morton's third quality start in his last five outings since rejoining the rotation May 26 versus the Cardinals. During that span, the veteran right-hander has earned all of his wins on the year while allowing just eight runs (seven earned) over 26 innings. His ERA is down to 5.64 with a 1.60 WHIP and 74:32 K:BB through 67 innings over 17 appearances (11 starts) this season. Morton is projected to make his next start at home versus the Rangers.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Strikes out 10 in win
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Morton (3-7) earned the win against the Angels on Friday, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out 10 across five scoreless innings.
Morton was fantastic, generating 16 whiffs on 78 pitches for his second 10-strikeout performance of the season. If not for a lengthy rain delay, the veteran likely would have had a shot at his third quality start in four outings since rejoining the rotation May 26. On the year, he owns a 6.05 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 67:32 K:BB across 61 innings and lines up for a road matchup with the Rays next week.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Early exit Saturday
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Morton allowed four runs on six hits and four walks while striking out five over 2.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Athletics on Saturday.
Morton had seemingly turned a corner with two successful starts in a row since returning to the rotation, but he faltered again Saturday. He threw 76 pitches (42 strikes) in this effort, which saw him give up all four runs in the first inning, though the Orioles were able to overcome the early deficit. Morton has generally been better since the start of May after a brief shift to the bullpen, but it continues to be tough to trust the 41-year-old from one outing to the next. He's at a 6.59 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 57:31 K:BB through 56 innings over 15 appearances (nine starts) this season. Morton's next start is tentatively projected to be at home versus the Angels.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Finally tallies first win
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Morton (1-7) earned the win Monday against the Cardinals, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out five.
Not only did the veteran right-hander secure his first win, but he also collected his first quality start with this vintage 86-pitch performance. The lone blemish on Morton's outing was a 368-foot, two-run homer off the bat of Pedro Pages in the fifth inning. After pitching to a ghastly 9.38 ERA across his first 31.2 frames, Morton has been better of late, firing a 2.35 ERA and 17:4 K:BB over his last 15.1 innings. The 41-year-old receives a soft matchup for his next start, which currently lines up to be at home against the White Sox this weekend.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Slated to start Monday
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Morton is scheduled to start Monday's game against the Cardinals at Camden Yards, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
After the Orioles parted ways with Kyle Gibson last Tuesday, Morton had been expected to slot back into the rotation during the team's series versus Boston over the weekend, but rainouts Thursday and Friday resulted in some reshuffling with the pitching schedule. Morton is now set to take the hill Monday on eight days' rest and will be making his seventh start of the season. The veteran right-hander is still holding down a 7.68 ERA and 1.76 WHIP on the season, but he's been much sharper over his three most recent relief appearances. In those outings, Morton struck out 12 batters over 9.2 innings while allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Re-entering rotation
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Morton will start for the Orioles on Friday in Boston, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Morton pitched well after taking over for an ineffective Kyle Gibson on Saturday versus the Nationals, striking out six over 4.1 innings of one-run ball. He's yielded only two runs with a 12:2 across his last 9.1 relief innings and will now get another shot in the Orioles rotation.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Shifts back to bullpen
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Morton struck out two over two perfect innings of relief in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Angels.
After slotting into the rotation Wednesday and dropping to 0-7 on the season while giving up three runs over four innings in a loss to the Twins, Morton shifted back to the bullpen this weekend and was tasked with mopping up in Saturday's loss. With the Orioles bringing Zach Eflin (lat) back from the injured list to start Sunday's series finale in Anaheim, Morton isn't expected to be needed in the rotation anytime soon.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Falls to 0-7
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Morton (0-7) took the loss against Minnesota on Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two batters over four innings.
After being demoted to a bulk-relief and then a bullpen role in late April, Morton was given another chance to start Wednesday since the Twins needed to fill a rotation spot. The veteran righty actually fared slightly better than he had in his previous five starts -- the three runs were the fewest he's given up in a starting appearance so far this season, and he walked just one batter -- but that's not saying much since he lasted only four frames and took his MLB-worst seventh loss. Given Morton's 9.38 ERA through 31.2 innings on the campaign, there's ample reason to believe that Father Time may have finally caught up to the 41-year-old. With starter Zach Eflin (lat) slated to be activated from the injured list this weekend, it's likely that Morton will head back to the bullpen.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Making start Wednesday
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Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Morton will start Wednesday's game against the Twins in Minnesota, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Morton was demoted to the bullpen last week after getting roughed up over his first five starts and two bulk-relief appearances of the season, but the Orioles never called up a pitcher from the minors to replace him in the rotation. With the Orioles needing to add a fifth starter back to the mix Wednesday, Morton will get the nod, but he's expected to shift back to a relief role immediately after the game. Zach Eflin (lat) appears on track to return from the injured list by the time the Orioles would next require a fifth starter May 17.
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Orioles' Charlie Morton: Shifting to bullpen
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
