The Baltimore Orioles are facing a tough reality when it comes to their pitching staff, and Charlie Morton is at the center of it. Despite his ongoing struggles—leading the league in earned runs and walks and failing in multiple roles including starter, reliever, and opener—the team is still turning to him for help. In a move that raised eyebrows, manager Brandon Hyde announced Morton would start Wednesday’s game, even after admitting the team has been struggling to recover from early deficits.
It seems baffling that a 41-year-old pitcher performing this poorly is still being trusted in the rotation, especially for a team with World Series ambitions. But the harsh truth is that Baltimore has little choice. The roster has been ravaged by injuries to key arms like Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, and Kyle Bradish, and the options at Triple-A Norfolk aren’t inspiring either.
While the Orioles could try patchwork solutions like bullpen games or limiting Morton’s role, that would only wear down an already stretched pitching staff. Morton, for all his current flaws, at least has a history of success at the Major League level. If fans are frustrated, much of the blame falls on GM Mike Elias, whose failure to bolster the rotation during the offseason has left the team in this bind. Morton needs to perform better, but he’s also being asked to carry a load he likely shouldn’t have been given in the first place.
