Rockies Place Kyle Freeland on 15-Day IL, Activate Carson Palmquist

The Colorado Rockies have placed left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland on the 15-day injured list retroactive to June 12 due to lower back stiffness, which led to him missing the game against the Atlanta Braves on June 15. Despite Freeland pitching well in his last start and showing no signs of injury then, the back issue may have arisen during a bullpen session between starts. In response, the Rockies recalled left-hander Carson Palmquist from Triple-A Albuquerque to fill Freeland's spot in the rotation, with Palmquist scheduled to start the series opener against the Washington Nationals and potentially another game later in the week. Palmquist, though considered one of the Rockies' better pitching prospects, struggled in his initial MLB starts this season with an 0-4 record and a 7.77 ERA, making him a less attractive fantasy option despite the opportunity for multiple starts. Freeland's injury is the second setback this season, following an earlier finger issue, and his absence is expected to impact the Rockies' pitching rotation, requiring other starters to step up. The team is hopeful Freeland can resume throwing soon and potentially return to the active roster when eligible on June 27.