The Atlanta Braves are off to a 6-3 start on the season and have perhaps the most potent lineup in baseball. That offense, however, will not be able to carry the day for a 162-game season. Charlie Morton is the latest starter for the team to unravel as he gave up four earned runs in five and ⅔ innings. Morton was cruising early and then his day came to an abrupt ending.
Max Fried has also had an uncharacteristic start to his 2024 campaign. Spencer Strider is likely out for a majority of the season after sustaining a UCL injury. And now Morton faltered in his last start. The back end of the rotation featuring Chris Sale and presumably now a host of Gwinnett Stripers needs to pick up the slack while the rest of the rotation rounds into form.
The bats can be as hot as they have been but if the pitchers can’t give innings and get big outs it will all be in vain for the third consecutive year after failing to make it out of the NLDS.
