MILWAUKEE -- Travis Shaw did his part by hitting his way back to the big leagues. Now it's up to the Brewers to figure out what to do with him.

On Friday, for the opener of a three-game series against the Cubs with significant implications not only for the National League Central race, but for Wednesday's 3 p.m. CT Trade Deadline as well, Shaw was starting at first base as part of a lefty-heavy lineup against Chicago righty Kyle Hendricks.

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Another injury to a starting pitcher precipitated the move; the Brewers entered the weekend with three healthy starters, nine relievers and five extra position players. After the weekend, they will see where they stand heading to Oakland for another three-game set that coincides with the Deadline.

Those were decisions for the front office. The task at hand was simpler for Shaw: Produce, just like he did while hitting eight home runs in his last 15 games at Triple-A San Antonio to position himself for a comeback.

"I have to do it up here, but down there these past two to three weeks have been about as good as you can get," said Shaw, who slashed .164/.278/.290 in the Majors before his demotion. "For me, I'm in a good spot. Had a ton of success down there. Not only just getting on base, but driving the ball, too. Eight homers in three weeks. I'm in a good spot. We'll see what happens up here."

Shaw, who plays at third, second and first base, joined a crowded infield with his most recent positions locked down by other players: All-Star Mike Moustakas at third and reigning NL Player of the Week Keston Hiura at second. First base has been productive lately as a platoon of Eric Thames and Jesús Aguilar. But Thames can also play the corner outfield spots, as he did Friday in a start as the right fielder. Moustakas was drafted as a shortstop, but while the Brewers got creative last year when they started Jonathan Schoop at short in what was dubbed their "goal line infield," they have no plans to do so with Moustakas, manager Craig Counsell said.

Another possibility was that Shaw's stay would be short, a la Ji-Man Choi's appearance on the Opening Day roster last year. Shaw could stay for the weekend while the Brewers carry only three starters, plus the next series in Oakland with the designated hitter in play, then return to the Minors. But that's not the intention with Shaw.

"I told Travis the intention is to have him be here the rest of the year," Counsell said.

Of course, the Trade Deadline could provide some answers.

If it doesn't, Counsell and the Brewers will have to get creative.

"Our roster is going to be a little liquid right now," Counsell said. "We have kind of an odd looking roster right now. ... It's not going to stay that way. I think we're in a good spot for the weekend, but when the days off go away we're going to change that."

Chacin has 'lat' injury
It is a right lat strain, not an oblique strain as previously reported, that sent Jhoulys Chacín to the 10-day injured list on Thursday and opened a roster spot for Shaw. An MRI confirmed the extent of Chacin's injury, which the club estimates will sideline their Opening Day starter two to four weeks.

Compare that to the Brewers' other injured starter, Brandon Woodruff, who is down six weeks with a left oblique strain.

"That's good news in the sense is that we're not going to miss as long," Counsell said. "He's going to miss some time, but it's not [as bad as] the way it kind of looked at the onset. That's really positive.

"At the same time, he's struggling, too. We're going to have to address that, too."

In the shorter term, the Brewers will need a starting pitcher on Tuesday at Oakland, but that could be as simple as shifting Adrian Houser or Freddy Peralta from the nine-man bullpen. It's not until Aug. 3 at Wrigley Field that the team needs a fifth starter.

Last call
• The Brewers on Friday pushed two of their top pitching prospects, Trey Supak and Devin Williams, from Double-A Biloxi to Triple-A, moving them one step closer to the Major Leagues in the event they are needed. Supak, No. 10 on MLB Pipeline's list of Milwaukee's top prospects, has twice come within one out of throwing a no-hitter this season. Williams, No. 15 on that list, is a reliever who represented the Brewers at the All-Star Futures Game.

• Right-hander Corbin Burnes (shoulder) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend, and Jimmy Nelson (elbow) will continue his rehab assignment at Triple-A. The Brewers' pitching issues won't impact the timetable for either player's return, Counsell said.

"We've got to get Corbin on track, too," Counsell said. "We've got to go at the right pace for Corbin. I don't think our needs should factor in to getting him ready. We need to get him ready properly. He's got a shoulder injury there that we've got to make sure we get healed right."