Orioles Forced to Rely on Struggling Charlie Morton Amid Rotation Woes
Baltimore Orioles fans are all too familiar with the Charlie Morton experiment and it’s been painful to watch. Whether starting games, coming in after an opener, or working out of the bullpen, Morton has consistently struggled. The 41-year-old leads the league in both earned runs and walks allowed, and there’s little evidence he can reverse the decline.
Still, despite his poor performance, the Orioles are giving him yet another start. After a blowout loss to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, manager Brandon Hyde confirmed Morton would be taking the mound on Wednesday. The timing of the announcement, coming just after Hyde admitted the team “isn’t handling early deficits well,” only added to the frustration.
Desperation, Not Confidence, Keeping Morton in the Rotation
It’s hard to comprehend why a pitcher with Morton’s numbers is still being used in a starting role on a team with championship aspirations. But the harsh truth for Baltimore fans is this: the Orioles simply have no better options right now.
Injuries have devastated the pitching staff, sidelining key arms like Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells, Trevor Rogers, and Chayce McDermott. The minor league depth isn’t much more promising either. At Triple-A Norfolk, the only consistent starter with an ERA under 4.00 is 27-year-old Kyle Brnovich, who’s not viewed as a top prospect.
While bullpen games or tandem pitching could be short-term fixes, they’re unsustainable in the long run. Someone has to pitch every fifth day and right now, that someone is Morton. Despite his current form, he does have a track record of being a reliable major leaguer, which is more than can be said for the alternatives.
If fans are looking for answers, they may want to turn to the front office. GM Mike Elias’ decision not to reinforce the rotation during the offseason has left the team with few options. While Morton clearly needs to improve, it’s Elias who bet on a 41-year-old to anchor a playoff-contending rotation.
