Whereas loads of issues have gone fallacious for the Baltimore Orioles by the primary 21 video games of the 2025 season, the offseason signing of beginning pitcher Charlie Morton is standing out as one of many franchise’s largest blunders.
Along with his abbreviated begin on Sunday towards the Cincinnati Reds that lasted simply 2.1 innings, the 41-year-old Morton now holds an ERA of 10.89 after giving up seven runs on seven hits and strolling 4. In every of Morton’s 5 begins this season, the right-hander has surrendered 4 or extra runs in every begin whereas totaling simply 17.1 innings throughout these outings.
Signed by the Orioles in January to a one-year, $15 million deal, Morton admitted he thought he may need thrown his final MLB pitch when he walked off the sector on September 29 as a member of the Atlanta Braves. On reflection, that intestine feeling that it may need been an finish to a 17-year MLB profession may need been appropriate.
A part of the rationale for Morton’s shortcomings in 2025 has been his lack of an environment friendly curveball. Heading into Sunday’s begin towards Cincinnati, opponents had been slashing .435/.464/.870 (10-for-23) with two doubles, one triple, and two residence runs off Morton’s curveball this season. Evaluate that to the primary 5 begins of final season when opposing batters slashed simply .208/.300/.245 (11-for-53) with two extra-base hits towards his curveball.
Actually, Morton wasn’t the one downside in a 24-2 shellacking by the Reds at Camden Yards on Sunday that dropped the Orioles to 9-12 on the season. Supervisor Brandon Hyde, who is on the hot seat in Baltimore, referred to as the loss “embarrassing” after his pitchers gave up a mixed 25 hits, together with a historic efficiency from the underside of the Cincinnati order.
