House That Hank Built
Fansided

Braves: Charlie Morton Deserves Some of the Blame

By Jake Mastroianni

ATLANTA, GA - MAY 07: Charlie Morton #50 of the Atlanta Braves is pulled from the game in the first inning of an MLB game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on May 7, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 07: Charlie Morton #50 of the Atlanta Braves is pulled from the game in the first inning of an MLB game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on May 7, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Atlanta Braves went out and spent a lot of money this past offseason on starting pitching, and so far the returns haven’t been great. 

We’ve given the Atlanta Braves and Alex Anthopoulos a lot of grief for the signing of Drew Smyly — and deservedly so.

But the other big free-agent pitcher signed this past offseason hasn’t been spectacular either.

Morton currently has a 4.50 ERA in 13 starts and 66 innings with a WHIP of 1.30.

That’s certainly not terrible like the 5.63 ERA Smyly has given us in 56 innings with a 1.41 WHIP.

Still, it’s not what I was hoping for when the Braves gave him $15 million to be their veteran in the middle of the rotation.

We need more dominant outings out of him and to be that guy who is able to stop a  losing streak.

It seems like when Morton has had those opportunities this year he hasn’t been able to deliver.

On May 1 against Toronto with the team on a two-game losing streak, Morton blew a 4-0 lead and the Blue Jays went to win 6-5.

May 13, again against Toronto in the midst of a two-game losing streak, the Braves took an early 2-0 lead and Morton couldn’t hold it giving up 3 runs in just 4.2 innings.

And in his last start on June 11 against the Marlins with the Braves once again on a two-game losing streak, the offense gave him an early lead and he gave it right up. He only went 4 innings giving up 4 earned runs.

That’s not what you would hope for from the veteran that is supposed to come up big for you in those spots.

And that’s not to say Morton hasn’t had some really good moments this year. The Braves are 6-7 in his 13 starts this year and have won four of his last five starts.

His advanced stats, according to Baseball Savant, would tell you he’s been a bit unlucky and is more of a 4.20 ERA pitcher than 4.50.

But the 9.1 BB% has to come down significantly, and he’s also in the bottom of the league in max exit velocity allowed; although, his barrell% and hard-hit% are still very good.

He still has one of the best curveballs in the league and gets plenty of strikeouts.

Also on the bright side, he’s taking the ball every fifth day and giving the Braves good innings — for the most part. He’s gone at least 5 innings in 10 of his 13 starts and 6 or more in five of them.

Next. What to do with the Braves outfield. dark

I don’t think Charlie is far off from being the guy we hoped he could be, but he certainly deserves some of the heat that Smyly is getting right now.

Home/Braves Roster