Charlie Morton and Trevor Rogers both found success their last time out. Which pitcher is more likely to provide quality starts for the remainder of this season?
Charlie Morton appeared to have the “Most Disappointing Orioles Pitcher” award locked up this season before Kyle Gibson took the mound. Gibson proceeded to run away with the accolade by allowing a whopping 23 earned runs in only four short starts.
While the MDOP may not be a real award, the recipient always receives plenty of attention. Jack Flaherty emerged as a significant letdown in the second half of 2023, and Trevor Rogers immediately earned the scorn of fans after a quick demotion last season.
Gibson simply didn’t have it after signing late and missing spring training. It’s unclear whether the 37-year-old will pitch for another team this season, but his second stint in Baltimore ended much quicker than the first.
Gibson will be remembered for his veteran leadership, amusing personality, and 15 wins during a division title run in 2023, but his 2025 was something to forget. Unfortunately, he will not have a chance at redemption in an Orioles uniform.
It’s an opportunity that Morton and Rogers still have. Both starters delivered their best performances in an Orioles uniform their last time out.
Baltimore called on Rogers to serve as the 27th man in a doubleheader on Saturday, and the lefty held Boston scoreless over 6.1 innings. Rogers limited the Sox to only two hits, struck out five, and did not walk a batter.
Rogers rose to the occasion in his first big league opportunity this season. The former Marlin missed spring training with a partial dislocation of his right kneecap, and he failed to impress in any of his minor-league rehab appearances.
Rogers posted a 7.11 ERA over four starts for the Orioles in 2024. Previous struggles, paired with ugly numbers in the minors, provided very little hope that Rogers would meet the moment over the weekend. Baltimore’s frustrating underperformance, paired with the success of Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby, set the stage for an angry mob after only one game. Rogers silenced the critics before they had an opportunity to sharpen their pitchforks.
Morton, on the other hand, had already taken quite the beating from O’s fans this year. Baltimore signed the 41-year-old to provide stability to the middle of the rotation, but the veteran struggled from the jump.
Morton allowed at least four earned runs in each of his first five starts. He left the bullpen with at least four innings of work in each contest before being demoted to mop up duty himself.
The veteran initially struggled in the bullpen before turning a corner in the middle of May. He posted two perfect innings against the Angels, turned in a respectable three frames against Minnesota, and provided quality relief in Gibson’s final start as an Oriole.
Morton earned a second chance to start, and he earned the victory out on the mound. The veteran limited St. Louis to two runs over six frames.
Both starters provided Baltimore some positive momentum over the last week. Now, the question becomes which pitcher is more likely to replicate their quality start?
Morton will have the first crack at it. Baltimore returned Rogers to Norfolk after the doubleheader. The O’s can bring the lefty back at any time, but Morton currently holds the fifth starter spot alongside Zach Eflin, Tomoyuki Sugano, Dean Kremer and Cade Povich.
Morton provided a candid statement after notching his first win of the season. The two-time All Star knows he still has the stuff to pitch at this level, and he knows that he’s made too many mistake pitches this season. He pointed to his success with the curveball as the most encouraging takeaway from his six-inning start.
Rogers struggled in a majority of his five minor-league appearances, but the games were rehab outings that replaced spring training. Rogers flourished in his first full length start of the season, and it will be interesting to see how he responds at Norfolk moving forward.
The Orioles have been anything but strangers to pitching injuries and rain outs this season, so Rogers could easily return in the month of June. Baltimore paid Morton $15 million to deliver this season, and they traded a pair of legitimate prospects to acquire Rogers, but none of that matters any more. Both pitchers will have opportunities to replicate their recent success.