Charlie Morton
In his age 37 season, the man they call Ground Chuck for his preponderance of ground balls has become a bit of a postseason talisman. He joined the Astros in 2017 and they won the World Series. He signed with the Ray in 2019 and one season later they went to the World Series.
Now Morton plays a prominent role on the staff of the Atlanta Braves, who have pronounced World Series hopes of their own.
If Morton is losing much, it doesn’t show. Through 11 starts he’s 4-2 with a 4.11 ERA. He leads the Braves staff in both innings pitched and strikeouts.
With the loss of 2020 batting star Marcell Ozuna, first to dislocated fingers and then to a domestic violence arrest, responsibility for the Braves’ fate in the NL East race will increasingly fall on the team’s pitchers, and that means Morton.
The Braves trail the NL East-leading Mets by six games in the loss column, so there’s work to be done. But the Mets’ injury problems may be the worst in MLB, so their continued success is no sure thing.
Beyond that, as three-time defending divisional champions, the Braves have history on their side. If they can get to the post-season, they have the experience to win it.
Old-timer Morton is a large part of that experience.