Braves’ Hampton could be out two months

Atlanta Braves left-hander Mike Hampton injured his left side during batting practice and won’t be ready for the start of the regular season.

Hampton, starting the seventh season of an eight-year, $121-million contract, will miss the rest of spring training and could be out as long as two months. The Braves had been counting on him to bolster a rotation that includes John Smoltz, Tim Hudson and Chuck James.

“I think I pulled it pretty bad,” Hampton said Thursday. “There’s nothing you can do about it now except try to get it healed up and get it better.”

X-rays were negative and team doctors determined that he strained his left oblique, a serious injury for a pitcher.

Hampton, who missed all of last season after elbow surgery, already was coming along slower than expected. He isn’t likely to return to the majors before May.

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St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Josh Kinney needs elbow ligament-replacement surgery and will probably miss the entire season. Kinney was a top candidate for the setup relief role this season