"Choosing to err on the side of caution Tuesday, the Milwaukee Brewers placed ace right-hander and first-time all-star Yovani Gallardo on the disabled list with a strained left oblique.

The move is retroactive to Monday.

The Brewers activated left-hander Doug Davis to take Gallardo's roster spot, and he is scheduled to pitch Friday.

Gallardo will be eligible to come off the DL July 20 for the second game in Pittsburgh. With the all-star break built in, Gallardo will miss two starts.

Gallardo saw team physician William Raasch for a second time Tuesday, and he recommended the move.

"Dr. Raasch just detected a little more tightness and felt that the 'safety first' approach is the way to go, especially with the all-star break and the ability to build that into the disabled time," assistant general manager Gord Ash said. "It's still not (a) significant (strain), he's made improvement, but (Raasch) just felt this was better, and Yovani agreed."

Maybe secretly Gallardo held onto hope he might be allowed to pitch in his first all-star game next week, so the DL move was a letdown.

"I'm disappointed," Gallardo said. "Anytime you go on the DL it's not a good thing, but overall it's one of those things and as a starting pitcher (the oblique) is a tough area because you use it quite a bit."

Gallardo said he will "take it easy" and is not participating in any baseball activities. Trainers have him doing range-of-motion exercises but no plan is in place for his recovery yet."