Braves' Charlie Morton: Nearing finish line in recovery

Morton (lower leg) said Feb. 12 that he's "mostly caught up" with where he would normally be at in spring training if the MLB lockout wasn't in place, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Though he acknowledged he wouldn't know exactly where he's at from a conditioning standpoint until the team formally begins spring workouts, Morton at least looks on track for the start of the season after fracturing his right fibula during Game 1 of the World Series against Houston this past October. Atlanta was able to cruise to its first title since 1995 in spite of Morton's absence, but the 38-year-old was unquestionably the team's most dependable starter from about mid-May onward last season. He wrapped up the 2021 regular season with a 3.34 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 20.9 K-BB% across 33 starts.