Freeland (back) lands on injured list
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ATLANTA -- The Rockies placed left-hander Kyle Freeland on the 15-day injured list with low back stiffness prior to Sunday’s 10-1 win over the Braves at Truist Park.
Freeland logged quality starts in his previous three outings, including his only win of the season, at Miami on June 4. There was no sign of injury during his next start, a solid outing against the Giants on Wednesday. The Rockies hoped the injury would not cost Freeland a start, but the club decided to rest him.
“It really started tightening up on me after my bullpen the other day,” Freeland said. “I don’t think it’s going to be that big of a deal. Just getting it calmed down. I think the 15 days on the IL is going to be what I need to get back.”
Lefty Carson Palmquist, optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday after making his first five Major League starts (0-4, 7.77 ERA), was recalled on Sunday and will take Freeland’s spot in the rotation on Monday against the Nationals in Washington.
Also on Sunday, the Rockies optioned right-hander Zach Agnos, who has served as a closer and late reliever, to Triple-A Albuquerque. That’s the official move. But initially, the Rockies will send him to their performance lab in Scottsdale, Ariz., to "get him working on getting his slider in the zone, moving his body right," manager Warren Schaeffer said.
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After controlled work in the lab, Agnos will join Albuquerque for game action. He has yielded 10 runs in 3 1/3 innings over his last four appearances.
With the move, the Rockies activated lefty Austin Gomber for his first Major League start of the season on Sunday against the Braves. Gomber sustained left shoulder soreness during Spring Training.