Charles Morton Stats: Consistency the Key for Solid Pitcher
Right-Handed Pitcher Back Where it All Began
The Charles Morton stats show a pitcher who has become better with age. Morton never averaged a strikeout per inning until he was 32 years old. Those who watched Morton in his early days would have a hard time believing he would go on to have a long successful career. To say he struggled would be putting it mildly.
After being drafted in the third round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft by Atlanta, Morton spent the next six seasons in the minors, never advancing past AA and never posting a winning record. Morton started 2008 in AAA and things clicked for him there. After starting the MLB season 5-2 with a 2.05 ERA, Morton was called up to the Braves. He finished 2008 with a 4-8 record and a 6.15 ERA.
Morton was traded to the Pirates the following season and went 5-9 with a 4.55 ERA in 2009. He suffered through a horrible 2010 season, going 2-12 with a 7.57 ERA.
Things Come Together
In 2011, Morton rewarded Pittsburgh’s patience with him, posing a 10-10 record with a 3.83 ERA. He started 29 games and was second on the team in wins and strikeouts.
Injuries cut his 2012 season short, as he had Tommy John surgery on June 14, 2012. He finished with a 2-6 record and a 4.65 ERA in just nine games.
It was nearly a year before Morton pitched again, but he pitched well, going 7-4 with a 3.26 ERA. In 2014, Morton was 6-12, but sported a 3.72 ERA. In 2015, Morton was 9-9, although his ERA jumped up to 4.81. He was traded to Philadelphia after the season. But his time with the Phillies was cut short to yet another injury, playing just four games before tearing his hamstring.
Houston Astros
The Astros took a chance and signed Morton to a two-year $14 million contract on Nov. 16, 2016 and the Charles Morton stats really began to take off. His first season with Houston saw Morton go 14-7 with a 3.62 ERA and he was 15-3 with a 3.13 ERA the next season.
Tampa Bay Rays
After the 2018 season, Tampa Bay signed Morton to a two-year $30 million deal and he went 16-6 for the Rays with a 3.05 ERA. Tampa Bay won 22 of the 33 games he started, so any day you saw him pitching that season, you knew to make the Rays one of your best MLB bets today.
In the shortened 2020 season, Morton missed time with shoulder inflammation, but returned to pitch in the postseason, where he won both starts against Houston in the ALCS, sending the Rays to the World Series.
Return to Atlanta
Morton returned to Atlanta in 2021, finding the NL baseball schedule more to his liking this time around and went 14-6 with a 3.34 ERA. He was 9-6 in 2022 with a 4.34 ERA. Through Aug. 27, Morton was 13-10 with a 3.37 ERA in the 2023 season.
Postseason
Through the 2022 season, Morton was 7-5 with a 3.60 ERA. However, his biggest claim to fame in the playoffs is winning five elimination games. That’s the most in Major League Baseball history. He did lose his last, however, as he allowed three runs in two innings against Philadelphia in the 2022 NLDS.
Career Stats
Through Aug. 27, 2023, the Charles Morton career stats show 129 wins and 111 losses to go with a 3.98 ERA. Morton has struck out 1,854 in 1938 2/3 innings. As a rookie, he made one relief appearance in a regular season game. His other 347 appearances have been as a starter. He also has one relief appearance in the playoffs. He’s led the National League in hit batters on four occasions.
Betting Results
In the regular season, Morton’s teams have gone 180-167 when he starts. But since Morton is usually a solid favorite, flat-betting to win $100 when he’s favored or betting $100 when his team is the underdog, has resulted in a loss of $2,027. Since 2017, flat-betting on Morton would have yielded a 110-76 record, but a loss of $425.
When Morton gets at least two runs of offensive support, his teams are 180-107 and 110-52 since the start of the 2017 season. Morton fares well in MLB score predictions, although that’s assuming his team will score at least three runs. His teams are 168-76 lifetime when scoring at least three runs.
In the playoffs, Morton’s teams are 9-8 for a profit of $53.
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