Brewers place Ryan Braun on DL with oblique strain

The Milwaukee Brewers have placed star outfielder and 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique, the club has announced. To replace Braun on the active roster, the Brewers have also activated outfielder Logan Schafer from the DL.

Braun had missed the six games prior to the announcement dealing with the injury. In correspondence with the time already missed, his placement on the DL is retroactive to April 27th, so the right fielder will be eligible to return on May 12th, though him being healthy by then is no guarantee.

Braun, who played in just 61 games last season due to a thumb injury and 65-game suspension for violating MLB's drug policy, has gotten off to a hot start this year. He was hitting .318/.361/.591 with a .402 wOBA and 156 wRC+ at the time of the injury. He is currently 10th in the NL with a .952 OPS.

The injury, which was announced on Saturday, received quite a reaction from the fans at PNC Park in Pittsburgh:

Cheers erupt at PNC Park when scoreboard news shows Ryan Braun went on 15-day DL today.

— Rob Biertempfel (@BiertempfelTrib) May 3, 2014

Schafer had been out since April 18th after suffering a hamstring strain. He started in Braun's place Saturday night against the Reds, and went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts. He is hitting .194/.219/.323 in 11 games this season.

The Brewers, who are a major-league best 21-10 following Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Reds, figure to use 25-year-old Caleb Gindl as their primary right fielder during Braun's absence, with Schafer also seeing considerable playing time.