Atlanta, GA (My Sportsbook) - The Atlanta Braves placed starting pitcher Mike Hampton on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf. The pitcher was injured while running on a treadmill before an exhibition game on Friday.

"I kind of felt a pain in my calves so I immediately got off the treadmill, and I knew exactly what it was when I did it because it was the same feeling I had two years ago in Colorado when I strained my calves," said Hampton. "I got off it (treadmill) and told them (trainers) and we started treating it right away."

Hampton became the second Atlanta pitcher to be placed on the DL in as many days, as Paul Byrd, who signed with the Braves as a free agent in the offseason, is out with an ailing elbow.

"I feel terrible about it because I want to get in here right away and get off to a good start and help this team to get off to a good start," added Hampton. "That's kind of a wash now. We've got a lot of capable arms and bodies that can come in and fill my spot."

Horacio Ramirez will take Hampton's spot in the rotation and is scheduled to start against the Montreal Expos Wednesday.

Hampton, a lefthander, was acquired from Florida in the offseason along with minor league pitcher Ryan Baker in exchange for pitcher Tim Spooneybarger.

The 30-year-old Hampton will be playing in his 11th season in the majors. His best season came with Houston in 1999, when he went 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA and finished second in that year's NL Cy Young Award balloting.

For his career, Hampton is 106-81 with a 3.98 ERA. He finished a dismal 7-15 in 30 games for Colorado last season.