ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The Atlanta Braves get to face an old friend Friday, July 4, when they face the Baltimore Orioles at Truist Park for the first of a three-game series.
That familiar face is none other than the 41-year-old Charlie Morton, who’ll take the mound for Baltimore as the Orioles (37-49) look to seize any sort of momentum as the All-Star break nears. Morton has a 5.63 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP in 18 appearances (12 starts) this season.
But before he was an aging arm within the Baltimore rotation, he was a significant part of the Braves (39-47) organization. He was drafted in the third round of the 2002 draft and made his major league debut in 2008. He rejoined the Braves in 2021, the team’s most recent World Series victory.
“I’m a big Charlie fan,” manager Brian Snitker said. “I just have so much respect for him and admiration for how he does things and the consistency, the career he’s had. All those things.
“He’s a great person. I hated that we couldn’t work out something to get him back.”
Across five seasons with Atlanta (2008, 2021-2024), Morton pitched to a 4.09 ERA in 761 innings. He was instrumental during Atlanta’s 2021 World Series run, posting a 3.34 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 33 starts and a 3.32 ERA in four starts during the postseason.
He was also instrumental of the development of Braves right-hander Spencer Strider, who’ll start Friday’s game for Atlanta. Strider and a handful of other Braves arms, that is.
“Charlie was instrumental with all our young guys,” Snitker said. “(The team) saw how a pro does it. How a guy gets treated and makes all the starts every year. Those guys can learn a lot from a guy like him.”
Overall, Morton has a 147-130 record and a 4.07 ERA across nearly 2,200 innings. He joins Colorado Rockies shortstop Orlando Arcia and Los Angeles Angels’ Travis d’Arnaud and Jorge Soler as 2021 World Series pieces to face Atlanta with their new teams this season.
But, in every case, Atlanta has welcomed them back with open arms.
“Great human being. Loved playing with him,” Braves third baseman Austin Riley said. “He’s seen me a bunch hitting … playing behind him, I’ve seen him pitch a bunch.
“I hope he gives me a couple pitches to hit.”
First pitch is at 7:15 p.m. The game will be the eighth regular season game broadcast live on Gray Media this year.
How to watch Braves on Gray:
Gray Media will simulcast these 15 Atlanta Braves games throughout the Southeast this season.
Fans can watch tonight’s Braves on Gray simulcast by tuning into Atlanta News First over the air on channel 46 or on YouTube TV, Dish Network, DirecTV, Xfinity and Spectrum.
If you are in another market outside of Atlanta, you can find your channel at BravesOnGray.com.