The Daily Chop: Morton, Loss to Orioles, Bench Spot, and more

When the Braves agreed to a one-year deal with Charlie Morton in November, the pact was universally praised. However, some concerns had arisen in 2020 with regard to Morton’s fastball velocity. The lanky right-hander was largely ineffective early on in the truncated campaign, but as his fastball velocity returned, so did the results. A strong finish drove up the asking price and restored confidence in Morton despite his age. On Wednesday, Morton squared off against the Orioles and fired 4¹⁄₃ shutout innings. The most encouraging aspect of the outing was the consistent 93-95 MPH readings on the scoreboard, which should inspire confidence for both Morton and the club as the season grows closer.

Braves News

Morton mostly cruises, Albies goes deep as Braves lose to Orioles

In addition to Morton looking great, Ozzie Albies homered in the game on Wednesday.

Morton his own harshest critic after second spring start as a Brave

Least impressed with Charlie Morton after Wednesday’s game: Charlie Morton. He was not thrilled with his command and felt that his breaking balls weren’t sharp. Either way, maintaining fastball velocity is a positive.

Kipnis, Panda covet roster spot on Braves

Rarely are teams afforded the luxury of choosing between former All-Stars to fill out their roster, but the Braves can do so with Jason Kipnis and Pablo Sandoval in camp.

MLB News

Trade talk will surround these players all year

Which players are most likely to be dealt in 2021?

Top prospects pop off at camp

These top prospects are making noise this spring.