Morton plans to continue his baseball career in 2025, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 41-year-old has not yet confirmed it himself, but recent reports had suggested Morton was likely to keep pitching next season rather than retire. Morton's strikeout rate fell to 23.8 percent in 2024, which was the lowest it's been since 2015. He still misses bats at an above-average rate, however, and has made 30-plus starts in each of the last six non-COVID seasons. Morton shouldn't have trouble netting a sizable one-year contract, likely from a contender.

Morton (8-10) took the loss Sunday against Kansas City, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks across 4.1 innings. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

Morton took the loss for the third time in his last four starts and surrendered four runs for a second consecutive outing. All four runs against the 40-year-old came via the long ball, with Michael Massey lifting a three-run homer in the first inning before Hunter Renfroe notched a solo shot in the fourth. Morton ends the regular season with a 4.19 ERA and a 167:65 K:BB across 165.1 innings spanning 30 starts.

Morton will start for Atlanta in Sunday's series finale against the Royals, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

EDGE Analysis

By having Morton start Sunday, Atlanta has the flexibility to start Chris Sale or Spencer Schwellenbach on Monday against the Mets or Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series. Morton came away with the loss in his last start against the Marlins on Sept. 20, during which he gave up four runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out three over six innings. Over his 29 starts this season, Morton has an 8-9 record with a 4.08 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 164:63 K:BB across 161 innings.

Morton (8-9) yielded four runs on seven hits and four walks over six innings Friday, striking out three and taking a loss against Miami.

EDGE Analysis

Morton struggled out of the gate and allowed three runs in the first inning. He kept the Marlins off the board for a few frames before allowing another run in the fifth. He threw 64 of 105 pitches for strikes and forced 12 whiffs, including seven with his curveball. Morton has walked multiple batters in seven straight starts, posting a 44:19 K:BB over 40.1 innings during that span. He now owns a 4.08 ERA with a 164:63 K:BB through 29 starts this season. Morton is projected to make his final start of 2024 in a home matchup against the Mets next week.

Morton did not factor into the decision in Sunday's loss to the Dodgers, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings.

EDGE Analysis

Morton blanked the Dodgers through four innings and allowed just two baserunners. They eventually got one in the fifth off a Shohei Ohtani double after the Dodgers opened up the frame with a single and a walk. Morton now has consecutive quality starts for the first time since July and has a 2.68 ERA over his last seven starts. He's now down to a 4.01 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 161:59 K:BB in 155 innings and lines up for a favorable start against Miami later in the week.

Morton (8-8) took the loss Monday, giving up one run on six hits and two walks over 6.2 innings in a 1-0 loss to the Mets. He struck out seven.

EDGE Analysis

Morton put together one of his better efforts of the season in a losing effort Monday. He pitched into the seventh inning for just the fifth time this season and held the Reds to a single run on an RBI double by Ty France in the third inning. The 40-year-old got lit up for eight runs against the Brewers early in August but has bounced back nicely since then with a 2.88 ERA over his last six starts. 

Morton (8-7) earned the win over Colorado on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out eight batters over five innings.

EDGE Analysis

Morton yielded two hits in a scoreless first inning, then allowed the Rockies to score twice on a walk, a triple and a double in the second. The veteran right-hander pitched much better the rest of the way, surrendering just one hit and two walks while keeping Colorado off the scoreboard across his final three frames. Morton needed 100 pitches to cover five innings and didn't return for the sixth, but he was effective in racking up 13 swinging strikes and eight punchouts. He's allowed three or fewer runs with at least six strikeouts in each of his past five starts but has completed six frames only once during that span.

Morton allowed three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out seven over 5.2 innings in a no-decision versus Philadelphia on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Morton successfully worked around traffic in each of the first five innings, but he got tagged for a three-run home run by Brandon Marsh in the sixth. Morton threw 62 of 105 pitches for strikes, but Atlanta couldn't hold the lead after he exited the game. He's allowed three runs or fewer in six of his eight starts since the All-Star break, though the two exceptions saw him give up seven (five earned) and eight runs in his only two losses in that span. Overall, Morton has a 4.26 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 140:52 K:BB through 137.1 innings across 25 starts this season. The 40-year-old is projected to make his next start at home versus Colorado.

Morton did not factor into the decision in Saturday's win over the Nationals, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks over 5.2 innings while striking out six.

EDGE Analysis

Both runs charged to Morton on the night came across on a two-run homer from Jose Tena in the second inning. The right-hander would then hurl three consecutive scoreless frames before being relieved by Aaron Bummer with two outs in the sixth. It marked the second straight outing in which Morton has been unable to get through six innings, though he's now given up two or fewer runs in each of his last three starts. He's also recorded six or more strikeouts in four of five starts in August, posting a 30:8 K:BB over that stretch.

Morton (7-7) got the win Sunday over the Angels, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out seven over 5.1 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Morton retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced but ran into some trouble in the fifth inning. He found himself in a bases loaded jam with nobody out and was able to escape with just one run allowed. Atlanta's pitching combined for 14 strikeouts with Morton responsible for half of those. He now has 15 strikeouts over his last two starts (11.1 innings) after he had just 15 strikeouts over his previous four starts combined (17.1 innings). The 40-year-old now owns a 4.29 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 127:46 K:BB in 126 innings. He lines up to face the Nationals at home in a start over the weekend.