The Nationals placed catcher Brian Schneider on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, retroactive to May 11, because of a left hamstring strain, and they recalled catcher/first baseman Robert Fick from his rehab assignment and activated him from the 15-day disabled list. Schneider's left hamstring has been bothering him since last week. In fact, he left last Saturday's game against the Pirates in the top of the seventh inning with hamstring tightness. He missed the next two games, but then played Wednesday's game against the Reds, in which he went 2-for-4. In that same game, however, Schneider reaggravated the hamstring after he doubled in the eighth inning against left-hander Kent Mercker. Schneider hasn't played since that time. Schneider was batting .230 with one homer and 14 RBIs in 30 games. Schneider was very surprised that he was put on the DL. The veteran backstop said he was feeling better and was expecting to play against the Cubs early next week, but general manager Jim Bowden came to him before the Saturday's game against the Braves and told his his plan.