ajc.com | Braves | Hampton joins Byrd on the DL

It’s a strained calf muscle. He’d been pitching much better in his last few outings, and now this. Horacio Ramirez moves up to the #3 spot and Jason Marquis to #4. The Braves hope that Byrd will be available when they next need five starters. I don’t know what they’ll do if they don’t have him back by then, but there will be several rookie pitchers with starting experience in the pen to start the season.