The good "Chuck" on our pitching staff threw the best game of his major league career last night, giving up only five hits and one walk through seven scoreless innings while striking out four. He was also very economical with his pitches, throwing only 98 pitches. That marks the second straight start in which he's made it through seven innings without passing the 100-pitch mark.

From the AJC:

"It's there," Cox said of Morton's talent. "It's definitely there. No doubt about that. He's just got to stay away from the bad [games]. He's learning. His mound presence was much better, and we found out tonight he can hit."

His past two starts were particularly encouraging considering what had happened in his two starts before them, when Morton gave up 12 runs, nine hits and eight walks in just 9 1/3 combined innings.

"I know I'm capable of pitching well, but at the same time I'm capable of pitching badly," said Morton, the first to admit a lack of confidence slowed his development for several years in the minors. "It can change in a heartbeat."

Charlie's problem for years in the minors is that he would suddenly lose his confidence on the mound in the middle of a game, and that would lead to big innings by the other team. His success has been found after gaining more confidence in his pitches and his ability to pitch out of bad situations.

These are the games that we want to see for the rest of the season -- young Braves finding success at the big leave level and gaining confidence in themselves. We're not playing for this year's post-season, but starts like this will help solidify a member of next year's team which will hope to complete for the post-season.

Mike Hampton is out. John Smoltz is out. Chuck James is unaware there is a strike zone, Jorge Campillo has blister problems, and now Tom Glavine has strained his left elbow. Injuries seem to be the only thing the Braves can do with regularity these days.

With Glavine likely out and Campillo questionable for his start this Saturday, the Braves must turn to another pitcher to fill the starting gap and get some innings. Enter Charlie Morton. Though Morton suffered only his second loss of the season Sunday in 100 degree heat in Virginia, the up-and-coming right-hander seems more than ready for the big leagues.

In 13 games this year, Morton has a 2.05 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in 79 innings pitched. Perhaps his most impressive stat is in the homerun column, where he hasn't surrendered a single long-ball all season. Before his loss Sunday, Morton had thrown a one-hit gem against Durham his previous start, striking out 13.

Morton is scheduled to start on Saturday for the Richmond Braves, but today's game notes strangely have Saturday's starting pitcher listed as "Charlie Morton/TBA." Perhaps that's a big giveaway into what the Braves may already have had planned for Morton.

In addition to needing a starting pitcher for Campillo and/or Glavine, the Braves may need to replace the seemingly over matched Manny Acosta in the bullpen. Since the end of May, Acosta's ERA has ballooned from 2.54 on May 30th to its current 4.41.

There aren't many options in the minors to replace him with, but if the team decides to activate Mike Gonzalez, then Acosta, and not Stockman, could be the odd man out of the bullpen.