Braves to start Morton Sunday in final MLB game

The Atlanta Braves are giving Charlie Morton a proper send-off.

Morton, who signed with the Braves earlier this week after being released by the Detroit Tigers, will make his final major-league start for Atlanta in Sunday's season finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. In what will be his 416th big-league appearance, Morton will reportedly serve as an opener for Chris Sale.

The start will be a full-circle moment for the 41-year-old as he heads into retirement. Morton began his career with the Braves in 2008 and then returned to Atlanta from 2021-24, serving as a key member of the team's 2021 World Series-winning rotation. He also spent seven seasons with the Pirates.

Morton said Tuesday that he had always planned for 2025 to be his final campaign, according to David O'Brien of The Athletic.

Morton returned to Atlanta after putting up a 5.89 ERA over 140 2/3 innings with the Baltimore Orioles and Tigers this year. His early-season struggles in Baltimore, following his signing of a $15 million contract, led to his brief stint in the bullpen. After being traded to Detroit at the deadline, he posted a 7.09 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 32 walks over nine starts and was ultimately cut by the slumping Tigers.

"The way my year's gone, it's been crazy," Morton said earlier this week, per O'Brien. "The thought of coming back (to Atlanta) and being around guys here - guys in the clubhouse, the staff, people that work here at the stadium. ... The year has been surreal, oftentimes in bad ways.

"Having the chance to kind of feel a little bit at home, a little peace, is nice. Because I really had to fight for it early."

Morton heads into his final outing sporting a lifetime 147-134 record with a 4.13 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 2,195 strikeouts over 18 big-league seasons between seven teams. He's also one of only five pitchers in MLB history to hit at least 200 batters during his career.

A two-time All-Star, Morton also became known for his clutch pitching in October, posting a 3.60 ERA with 92 strikeouts across 18 career postseason appearances. Morton helped both the Braves and Houston Astros to World Series titles and won a pennant with the Rays in 2020.