Orioles' Morton dumbfounded by struggles: 'What am I doing?'

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Charlie Morton is searching for answers amid one of the worst stretches of his 18-year career.

"The results are so bad that there will be times randomly during the day where I'll think about it. I'll think about how poorly I've pitched, and I'll think about how bad the results are," Morton said after allowing three earned runs over four innings in Wednesday's loss to the Minnesota Twins, per MASN.

"It's almost shocking to me because I have the experience, I have knowledge, I still think that I physically have the tools to be a halfway decent pitcher."

Morton's tenure in Baltimore is off to a nightmare start after joining on a one-year, $15-million deal. He's now 0-7 with a 9.38 ERA and 2.08 WHIP.

The 41-year-old has allowed a league-worst 33 total earned runs and has walked an American League-high 22 batters.

"Those thoughts kind of creep into your head like, 'What I am doing?'" Morton said. "Cause if I'm not helping the team, if I'm just kind of weighing the team down ... and I think that's the trap of still having my stuff come out well."

Morton is throwing his fastball and curveball, his two primary pitches, at roughly the same speeds he did in 2024 when he worked to a respectable 4.19 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 165 1/3 innings.

He has nonetheless struggled to limit hard contact this year. His hard-hit rate has ballooned to 47.7% while his average exit velocity has risen to 91.4 mph, both of which rank in the 13th percentile.

Still, for all the struggles, the veteran isn't ready to give up yet.

"I know that may sound crazy, but not too long ago I actually had a decent year," Morton said. "So it's really hard for me not to think there's a possibility I go out there and just have a decent stretch or a decent year."

The right-hander owns a career 4.09 ERA (99 ERA+) with 2,075 strikeouts across 2,157 1/3 innings pitched.

Baltimore entered Thursday last in the AL East with a 13-22 record.