Atomic RoadRunners | Andrew Flynn’s High-Energy Fantasy Baseball

Braves rookie SP Charlie Morton (3-7) remained winless in seven starts at Turner Field after giving up seven hits, three runs, two walks and six strikeouts over six innings in his first career appearance against the Giants. San Francisco won the game 3-1. Despite his record, Morton has pitched well in three of his last four starts and didn’t deserve to lose on Sunday. In Fantasy Week 21 (Aug. 18-24), Morton will get one start at St. Louis on Friday. In an outing against the Cardinals earlier this year, Morton gave up eight runs on seven hits over just 3 2/3 innings. If you must start Morton in the period, please let it be in a super-deep NL-only formats. (CBS Sports)

Charlie Morton allowed four runs in 2 1/3 innings to take the loss against the Cubs on Wednesday afternoon. Not exactly the outing the Braves were looking for in the first game of a double header. Morton needed 70 pitches to make it through the outing, and while he did manage three strikeouts, he issued four walks. The rookie had allowed just two runs in 14 innings in his last two outings, but he has another tough matchup against the Mets in his next start. (Rotoworld)

Tuesday night’s Cubs/Braves game has been postponed due to rain. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday, with Jason Marquis and Rich Harden going for the Cubs and Charlie Morton and Jorge Campillo set to pitch for the Braves. Marquis was going to be skipped in the rotation this week but will now get a start. Atlanta rookie right-hander Charlie Morton is scheduled to face Jason Marquis in the opener. Morton was supposed to start Tuesday but will now face the Cubs on Wednesday. That shouldn’t change your Fantasy plans if you already have him starting this week. Morton has a 1.29 ERA in two starts but a 5.70 mark on the season. Still, the prospect’s last two starts might indicate at least a minor breakthrough, so take a flier on him now in NL-only leagues.(Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Charlie Morton blanked the Diamondbacks for seven innings to pick up a victory on Thursday night. It was a 2-0 game when Morton left, but the Braves scored four times in the top of the eighth. That ended up being a very good thing, as Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer in a four-run bottom of the eighth before Mike Gonzalez quieted the Arizona offense. The Braves ended up winning 6-4. Morton’s best outing as a major leaguer still might be his last for a while. He’s likely to head back to Triple-A when Tom Glavine is activated. (Rotoworld) However, Morton may finally be getting into a groove at the major league level as he’s given up just two runs over 14 innings in his last two starts. He should stick in the rotation the rest of the season as the Braves look toward 2009.(Rotowire)

Charlie Morton allowed just two runs in seven innings, but still took the loss against the Brewers on Saturday afternoon. It was his first quality start since June 14, but he falls to 2-5 regardless. Morton allowed just four hits in the strong effort, striking out four and walking one. He gets the Diamondbacks in his next start. Other than a solo homer to Prince Fielder, Morton was very sharp with his location as he held Milwaukee to two runs on four hits while striking out four and walking just one. “It was a confidence builder, a big step,” Morton said. “I just hope I can build on it. My first five outings, it was hard to realize I was pitching in the big leagues. Today it was more of a feeling that it was just a baseball game. It was the first time I felt like that.” The Braves are playing for the future the rest of the way, so look for Morton to continue receiving chances in their rotation over the final two months. (Rotoworld, Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Charlie Morton allowed eight runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Cardinals on Monday night. Morton needed 81 pitches to get through the outing. He allowed seven hits, walked four and struck out just one batter. He has just two quality starts in eight attempts this season. It wasn’t an easy assignment, since Morton was recalled at the last minute Monday, but that doesn’t excuse such a poor outing. Morton has excelled in Triple-A this season, but he now has a 7.26 ERA in the big leagues.(Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Charlie Morton is likely to be recalled from Triple-A Richmond and start Monday’s game against St. Louis, the team’s official web site reports. Jo-Jo Reyes was set to start Monday but was used in relief on Sunday. Reyes struggled again, so Morton could take his place in the rotation with a strong outing. Since he was sent to Triple-A on Saturday, the Braves will need to place someone on the DL in order to bring him back within seven days of his demotion. That could be a sign Chipper Jones is headed for the DL. (Rotowire)

Braves optioned RHP Charlie Morton to Triple-A Richmond. Morton went 2-3 with a 6.00 ERA in his seven major league starts. He could be brought right back if Mike Hampton gets hurt again, but if Hampton can stay healthy and Tom Glavine can come back next month, then Morton will probably have to wait until 2009 before getting any additional starts. (Rotoworld)

Braves RP Charlie Morton allowed four runs and two hits in 5 2/3 innings during a 4-0 loss Tuesday against the Marlins. The right-hander watched as four Florida pitchers combined to one-hit Atlanta. Morton struck out five and walked four while his biggest mistake came on a three-run homer from Mike Jacobs. Morton has allowed four or more runs in three of his last four outings (1-2). He has a 6.00 ERA on the season and is taking his lumps as a rookie pitcher. He is not yet in jeopardy of losing his starting job since the Braves have been depleted by injuries. Morton remains a risky NL-only Fantasy SP. Morton’s next scheduled start is TBD. (CBS Sports)

While Braves RP Charlie Morton won’t be any use to NL-only owners in Fantasy Week 16 (July 17-20), the rookie is scheduled to get his first post-break start on Monday against the Marlins and will likely get two starts in Fantasy Week 17 (July 21-27), with his second one coming against the Phillies. Morton is 2-2 with a 5.93 ERA this season, but he has really struggled in his last four outings (0-2, 7.58). Be sure to bench him in NL-only formats for Fantasy Week 16 (July 17-20), and only consider him in deeper leagues for the following period, even if he does get two starts.(CBS Sports)

Charlie Morton allowed just one run in 5 1/3 innings to even his record at 2-2 this season. Morton had allowed 11 runs over eight innings in his previous two starts, so this was en encouraging outing, but in fairness it did come against the Padres. Morton will likely lose his spot in the rotation to Mike Hampton after the break. (Rotoworld)

Up:

• 3B Blake DeWitt (to Utility)
• P Jason Bergmann

Move:

• U Chase Headley (to OF)

Down:

• OF Jody Gerut
• P Charlie Morton

Notes:

• No FAAB acquisitions for the Atomic Roadrunners this week, as domestic discussions regarding an upcoming trip to San Diego extended through the transaction deadline. Whoops. Just as well.
• Cover Zero acquired former AaRr P Duaner Sanchez for $0 FAAB. In the process, he released former AaRr P Jon Lieber.
• Stanimals acquired former AaRr 2B Aaron Miles for $0 FAAB.

Charlie Morton let up six earned runs on eight hits Sunday but the Braves rescued him with a 7-6 win after 17 innings. Morton also walked two. He hasn’t been close to decent in two consecutive starts and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Braves begin looking elsewhere for rotation help. His ERA shot up to 6.84, but he escaped with a no-decision and remains 1-2 over five starts. If he gets another shot, Morton will face the Padres. (Rotoworld)

Charlie Morton gave up five runs and lasted just two innings with one strikeout and one walk in Tuesday’s loss to Philadelphia. Morton, who made his big-league debut on June 14, pitched fairly well over his first three starts with the Braves, but had his first taste of major adversity tonight. He had only allowed one run through the first two innings, but was pulled after giving up six straight hits to start the third.Expect some ups and downs as the rookie gets used to the majors. His minor league strikeout numbers show he can succeed in the majors, but it may take awhile. Morton, a two-start pitcher in Fantasy week 14 (June 30-July 6) who makes his next start Sunday against Houston, has now lost back-to-back starts, though he pitched much better on June 24 against Milwaukee. This was easily his worst outing in four starts on the year and he is only worth starting in NL-only leagues for the time being. (Rotowire, Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

FAAB Acquisitions:

• P Thomas Hanson, Braves [$3 bid, reserve]
• P Jared Burton, Reds [$2 bid, reserve]

Up:

• P Todd Wellemeyer, Cardinals
• P Charlie Morton, Braves

Down:

• P Brett Myers, Phillies

Cut:

• P Sean Marshall, Cubs
• C Carlos Ruiz, Phillies