Morton (2-0) earned the win Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings against the Rangers. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

The only damage against Morton came in the second inning after the right-hander allowed two singles and a walk in the first three at-bats to open the frame. He would allow two runs in the inning before going on to retire 12 of the next 15 batters he faced in the contest. It marked Morton's first quality start of the season, though he's now allowed at least two runs in three consecutive outings, posting a 16:8 K:BB over that stretch.

Morton pitched 5.2 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight batters in Sunday's 9-7 win over Miami. He did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Morton pitched three innings of one-run ball before he surrendered five more runs over the next 2.2 innings. The right-hander has now put together back-to-back disappointing outings, giving up 10 runs on 12 hits and six walks over 11.1 innings. The 40-year-old has pitched exactly 5.2 innings in each of his first three outings in 2024, a mark that he'll look to surpass when he returns to the mound for his next projected start Saturday at home versus the Rangers.

Morton (1-0) didn't factor into the decision Monday, allowing four runs on five hits and five walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

Morton's walks came back to bite him, with three of his four earned runs scored by players he walked on base. Most of the damage came in the fifth, when Morton opened up the inning by issuing a pair of free passes before Brandon Nimmo launched a three-run home run. Even with Monday's struggles, Morton owns a solid 3.18 ERA across 11.1 innings after blanking the White Sox in his 2024 debut.

Morton (1-0) allowed no runs on three hits and two walks over 5.2 innings to pick up the win Monday against the White Sox. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

It wasn't entirely clean early on for Morton, who loaded the bases in the first on a single, a walk and hit batter and allowed a total of six batters to reach base in the first two-plus innings, but Morton settled down to retire the final 11 batters he faced in cruising to his first win of the season. The 40-year-old veteran continues to excel despite his advanced age. His next opportunity to toe the rubber is tentatively scheduled to take place Sunday in a home matchup against the defending National League champion Diamondbacks.

Morton gave up three runs on five hits and a walk over five innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. He struck out seven.

EDGE Analysis

He appears just about ready for the start of the season. Morton did serve up two homers Saturday, a two-run shot by Jack Suwinski in the first inning and a solo shot by Billy McKinney in the third, but they were the first two long balls he's allowed this spring, while Morton's 10:3 K:BB through 7.2 Grapefruit League innings highlights his still-impressive strikeout upside. The 40-year-old delivered a 3.64 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 183:83 K:BB over 30 starts and 163.1 innings for Atlanta in 2023.

Morton gave up two hits and two walks over 2.2 scoreless innings during Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against Detroit. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

The 40-year-old right-hander saw his first game action of the spring, taking the mound to begin the fifth inning, and he looked to be nearly ready for Opening Day. Morton's 1.43 WHIP last season was his highest mark in over a decade, but his 3.64 ERA and 25.6 percent strikeout rate over 163.1 innings indicate he still has plenty left in the tank. He's expected to begin the 2024 campaign as Atlanta's No. 4 starter.

Atlanta exercised Morton's $20 million team option for the 2024 season on Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

According to Passan, the organization had some uncertainty at bringing Morton back for his age-40 season at a sizable salary, but the veteran right-hander will ultimately stick around in Atlanta for what could be his final campaign in the big leagues. Though his 11.6 percent walk rate in 2023 represented his worst mark since his rookie campaign, Morton struck out more than a quarter of the batters he faced for the third season in a row and was able to suppress home runs (0.77 HR/9). Even in the twilight of his career, Morton still looks like a strong mid-to-back-end rotation arm, and his fantasy outlook is made more promising by the fact that he'll be back by one of the top offenses in baseball.

Morton (finger) threw a bullpen session Friday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Morton's mound session seemingly went smoothly, but he won't be eligible to return until the NLCS after landing on the IL on Sept. 24 with inflammation in his right index finger. Nonetheless, the 39-year-old righty is showing signs of progress and may be able to contribute to Atlanta's postseason run if the team manages to get past Philadelphia.

Morton was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday, retroactive to Sept. 23, with right index finger inflammation.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander suffered the injury during Friday's start against the Nationals and will finish the regular season on the injured list. Morton is now likely to be unavailable through at least the NLDS, as he won't be eligible to be activated until after the roster for that series needs to be set -- though he could be reinstated mid-series if Atlanta places another player on the injured list. Allan Winans was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move and will start Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader in Washington.

Morton will undergo an MRI on Saturday after leaving his start Friday at Washington with right index finger discomfort, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Morton felt something in his right index finger while throwing a curveball in the bottom of the first inning and was replaced by Michael Tonkin before the bottom of the second. X-rays were negative for any fractures, but Morton may be dealing with some sort of ligament or tendon issue -- for now, it's being called a sprain. This injury could mark the end of his regular season if it's at all severe, though he still might be a possibility for the NLDS. His final regular-season start was slated to come in next week's series in Atlanta against the Cubs.