Charlie

Morton

Morton was greeted by his family as he walked off the field in Atlanta. The 41-year-old was making his first appearance since the Braves picked him up for a third career stint with the team. He debuted with Atlanta in 2008 before being traded to the Pirates for Nate McLouth in 2009. He rejoined the Braves in 2021 and went 45-34 with a 3.87 ERA in four seasons before signing with the Orioles last winter. He finishes his career 147-134 with a 4.13 ERA. He had his best season in 2019, going 16-6 with a 3.05 ERA for the Rays and finishing third in the AL Cy Young balloting. He was 7-5 with a 3.60 ERA in the postseason, winning championships with the Astros in 2017 and the Braves in 2021.

Morton will finish his career back where it started, in Atlanta, facing the team he spent seven of his 18 seasons with. All told, 281 of his 408 career starts have come with the Pirates (142) and Braves (139). This will probably be a rather brief outing for him, and Sale, who will be making his first relief appearance since 2012, should still be in line for a win if all goes as hoped.

Morton’s final appearance will come in relief. The 41-year-old signed a one-year deal Monday after being released by the Tigers, and he’ll reportedly retire after 18 seasons in the majors; five of those with Atlanta.

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker announced the move prior to Monday’s series opener against the Nationals. While it’s possible Morton pitches again during the final week, this transaction suggests the 41-year-old veteran hurler may be ready to retire after 18 big-league seasons. Morton spent five years with Atlanta from 2021-24, helping them capture the 2021 World Series. He was released over the weekend by the free-falling Tigers after posting a 7.09 ERA across nine starts.

Morton has been booted from Detroit’s pitching plans amid their stunning late-season collapse following an abysmal outing on Friday night against Atlanta where he was lit up for six runs over 1 1/3 innings. This might be it for the 41-year-old veteran, who figures to pass through waivers unclaimed, and won’t be part of the Tigers’ postseason pitching plans — if they manage to hold onto a playoff berth.

Morton also issued a pair of walks in the ballgame while striking out a pair of batters. The Braves got to him for three runs in the opening inning as Morton walked Drake Baldwin with the bases loaded and allowed a two-run single to Ozzie Albies. They piled on with three more in the second — including a two-run blast by Ronald Acuna Jr. — before Morton was mercifully removed. The 41-year-old hurler got six whiffs on 45 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 27 percent. After this debacle, there’s no guarantee he sticks around in the Tigers’ rotation to start on Wednesday against the Guardians. He now holds a brutal 5.89 ERA over 140 2/3 innings on the season.

Morton gave up a run on a double and a base hit in the first inning. The Marlins brought another run in on a walk and a double in the second. Morton gave the Tigers two more scoreless innings before ending his day with four strikeouts over four innings at 76 pitches. The 41-year-old right-hander holds a 5.56 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and a 146/69 K/BB ratio across 139 1/3 innings. He’s in line for a start against the Braves in Detroit on Friday.

The 41-year-old hurler also issued three walks on the day while recording only two strikeouts. The White Sox got to him for a pair of runs in the opening inning on a two-run double by Andrew Benintendi. He then served up a solo homer to Lenyn Sosa in the third inning. Morton got seven swings and misses on 72 pitches on the day, posting a CSW of 25 percent. He now sports a troublesome 6.09 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 41/17 K/BB ratio over 34 innings in seven starts since joining the Tigers. He would line up to take on the Marlins in Miami his next time out on Saturday provided a change to the rotation doesn’t happen after another rough outing.

Morton allowed baserunners galore, including five hits, four walks, and a hit-by-pitch. The veteran craftsman managed to avoid major damage until he served up a grand slam to Juan Soto in the fourth inning. Morton has allowed 11 runs over his last two starts after some initial success as a Tiger.

Morton put the Tigers behind early as he surrendered a three-run homer to Jacob Wilson in the first inning. Three straight singles and a groundout to start the third inning brought two more runs in to score for the A’s. Morton gave the Tigers two more innings before ending his day with seven strikeouts over five frames. The 41-year-old right-hander will take a 5.25 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and a 137/58 K/BB ratio across 128 2/3 innings into a start against the Mets in Detroit on Monday.