Braves Rumors: Ozzie Albies is back on the field doing agility drills
Braves star Ozzie Albies is still rehabbing his hamstring on the 10-day injured list, but there is a dose of good news regarding his recovery.
This past weekend, Albies was spotted jogging on the field and doing stretches and lunges. Bally Sports' Kelly Crull reported that Albies also ran on the treadmill and did some cage work, and by all accounts, he's heading in the right direction.
Albies was taken out of a game against the Mets on August 13 due to what was first reported to be a cramp. It turns out he suffered a left hamstring strain and was placed on the injured list to get some rest ahead of the postseason.
Based on the latest update, Albies could be back on the field after the minimum 10 days.
The All-Star second baseman has been slashing .267/.327/.514, with an 120 OPS+ and has also gone 11-for-11 in stolen bases.
The Braves have options behind Albies in the rotation, so getting him back this month isn't a necessity.
Braves Rumors: Charlie Morton has a World-Series-winning mentality
On the cusp of age 40, Braves pitcher Charlie Morton is nearing the end of his MLB career, and he knows it. But for at least until the end of the season, Morton has pushed away any thoughts of retirement and is focused on winning some brass.
In his 17th season in the league, Morton has a 3.54 ERA over 24 starts. He dominated the Yankees last week with a 10-strikeout performance and even made Aaron Judge fall to his knees with one of his knuckle curveballs.
Morton recently spoke to David Laurila about his unconventional career path and about his mentality during a season that could be his last dance. The 2002 third-rounder admitted he had no idea he would have his most productive years in his mid-to-late thirties, or that he would be throwing the ball like he is now.
With the Braves primed to make another deep playoff run, Morton hopes he can "carry the good parts of my year into the offseason" and won't think about retirement until after the Braves have closed out their 2023 campaign.
"I went into this year thinking that I wanted to go home. That was my mentality, but I can't have that mentality right now. I'm trying to win a World Series. I don't want to think about either retiring or keeping going. Frankly, it's kind of exhausting to think about next year in any shape or form. My attitude is that I'm going to carry the good parts of my year into the offseason. Then it's up to me."
As Laurila writes, Morton has gone 82-40 with a 3.54 ERA over 185 starts since his 2017 season, when he was 33 years old.
One may assume that as long as Morton can still humiliate the league's best sluggers, he's going to stay on the mound. A third World Series for the durable veteran pitcher is within reach.
Braves Rumors: Atlanta flaunts Allan Winans in Mets' miserable faces
Gwinnett ace Allan Winans is scheduled to start Monday's series opener against the Mets, and the Braves couldn't be more excited to see him on the mound against their bitter rivals.
Winans' previous major league start (and his first MLB win) was also against the Mets. In the Braves' 21-3 drubbing of the Mets on August 13, Winans struck out nine players and allowed only four hits in seven scoreless innings.
Now, for the second time in 10 days, the 27-year-old has another opportunity to stick it in New York's sad and miserable faces.
The Mets drafted Winans back in 2018 but declined to protect him during the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft in 2021. Atlanta brought on the right-hander for just $24,500, and the rest is history in the making.
In what will be his home debut at Truist Park, Winans may not be able to repeat the sparkling success of his last outing. Still, with the Braves comfortably cruising atop the NL East and with the Mets already looking ahead to next season (or more like the 2026 season, according to Billy Eppler), Winans has to be pleased about where he ended up.
In 2023, Winans has a 8-3 record and 2.79 ERA in Triple-A and is turning out to be quite the bargain bin steal. He's just another instance of the Braves one-upping the Mets this year.
