The Atlanta Braves had a brutal start to the 2025 season, dropping 10 of their first 13 games. But while things looked bleak midway through April, Atlanta has rebounded, posting a 16-8 record over their past 24 contests.
With Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. on the mend, it’s a credit to the Braves that they didn’t let a slow start shipwreck their season. But while the Braves have gotten off the mat, others haven’t been as fortunate.
In the case of one former Braves pitcher, his struggles have shown few signs of turning it around and it could cost him his job as this season rolls along.
Former Braves Playoff Hero Charlie Morton Getting Shelled with Orioles
Charlie Morton’s time in Atlanta ended last winter and it was a successful run. In four seasons, Morton posted a 49-42 record and 4.09 ERA but he’s most remembered for performance during the Braves’ playoff run in 2021. Morton posted a 3.24 ERA and struck out 22 batters with 10 walks over 16.2 innings and even threw 16 pitches on a broken leg during Game 3 of the World Series.
Morton’s toughness helped Atlanta win its first championship since 1996, but it wasn’t enough to keep him in town. Entering his age-41 season, the Braves chose to move on with a younger rotation and the Baltimore Orioles swooped in and gave Morton a one-year, $14 million contract.
Signing a pitcher on the wrong side of 40 to an eight-figure contract is a bold move and the Orioles are paying for it this season. Morton is getting shelled in Baltimore, posting an 0-7 record and an 8.82 ERA. He currently leads the American League with 33 earned runs allowed and is part of a disappointing team that has gone 15-24 and is in least place in the AL East entering Monday’s action.
The metrics suggest a rebound isn’t coming. Morton is allowing a career-high average exit velocity of 91.6 mph and his 13.2% walk rate is a career-high according to Baseball Savant. The most alarming stat is that Morton isn’t getting hitters to put the ball on the ground as his ground ball rate has dropped from 47.2% last season to 39.8% with the Orioles.
With hitters also chasing just 24% of the time, they’ve been able to tee off with a .411 weighted on base average (wOBA) that’s in the bottom fifth percentile of major league pitchers. It’s part of the staff-wide struggles the Orioles have experienced this year, as Baltimore starters rank 28th with a 5.55 ERA.
Atlanta’s starting staff hasn’t been much better, posting an 8-14 record and a 4.06 ERA in 40 games. But it could have been worse had they held onto Morton. With Strider expected to return from a hamstring injury this week, the Braves can put Morton further into the rear view mirror and make another step toward rebounding from a tough start.