Tampa Bay Rays announced on Monday that their starting pitcher Charlie Morton has landed on the 10-day injured list. The 36-year-old All-Star is dealing with shoulder inflammation.
Morton, who has 1-1 with 5.40 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 2020, first started experiencing issues in the second inning of Sunday’s game against New York Yankees. He made it to the third inning, but the tightness in his right shoulder was too much to bear so he was forced to leave the game.
In a corresponding move, Rays decided to activate reliever Jose Alvarado.
It is unclear how long will Rays, currently third in AL East with 8-8, will have to go on without Morton but the player himself isn’t too worried about the injury.
“I would say I’m not worried about it like I’m not worried about missing much time,” Morton told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times after the game. “I’ve had issues, and I’m pretty confident this is very manageable.”
Charlie Morton is coming off an All-Star campaign in 2019 when he posted 16-6 record with a 3.05 ERA and 240 strikeouts. He also finished third in American League Cy Young award, annually given to the best pitcher in the conference.
Morton is currently in the last year of his deal with Tampa Bay after signing a two-year, $30 million contract with the organization in 2018. Rays have a team option on him for 2021.
