Charlie Morton left last night’s game following the first inning with a right index finger injury. X-rays were negative, which is promising, but he’ll undergo an MRI tomorrow to determine what’s next.
A finger sprain doesn’t sound like something that should keep someone sidelined for too long, but Morton talked about the injury following the game, and he knows how detrimental it could potentially be to his chances of pitching in the playoffs if it cannot heal quickly.
I’m beginning to get a bit of déjà vu. Last season, the Braves capped off a magical chase down of the Mets to win the division. They were the hottest team in baseball as October approached; however, Max Fried lost 15 pounds leading up to the NLDS with an illness and Strider was suffering from an oblique strain. Neither was close to 100%, and the Phillies took full advantage.
This year, Max Fried was just put on the IL with a blister. He’ll be available for Game 1 of the NLDS, but will he be healthy? The same can be said for Charlie Morton. Even if he is able to pitch in the postseason, how much will this finger sprain affect him?
The Braves have battled through pitching injuries throughout the entire season, but the postseason is a different beast. Without a healthy Max Fried and Charlie Morton, the odds of the Braves reaching their ultimate goal are suppressed considerably.
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