Aguilar plays waiting game

Thames’ surge benches slugger

CHICAGO – The regular at-bats that Jesús Aguilar had been receiving have suddenly gone away.

Considering the absolute tear that Eric Thames has been on, having homered five times in four games coming into the Milwaukee Brewers’ series opener against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Monday, it doesn’t come as a surprise.

Aguilar hit .452 with seven home runs and 19 runs batted in over 25 Cactus League games in the spring, essentially forcing his way onto the opening-day roster. He then collected hits in each of his first five regular-season games as manager Craig Counsell sought ways to get him into the lineup in an attempt to keep him hot.

But now Thames is tied for the major-league lead with six homers and Aguilar, only able to play first base, is left to pinchhit and make the occasional start when Counsell can slide Thames to the outfield for a game.

So Aguilar stays ready while waiting for his next opportunity – whenever it may come.

“At the end it’s about having the right mindset,” Aguilar said through interpreter Carlos Brizuela. “I knew this was going to happen. I knew my role was going to be more of a bench player coming in and that’s why they prepared me in spring training, trying to get me as many at-bats there.

“I understand that and I know my role, and so I’m trying to prepare every day and be ready when my name gets called.”

The 26-year-old Aguilar is familiar with spotty playing time, having played parts of 2014-’16 off the bench for the Cleveland Indians. It’s a tough situation for any young player, and he hit just .172 in 58 at-bats over that span.

He’s done well coming off the bench so far, collecting a pair of hits and an RBI in five at-bats (.400) coming into Monday.

“It’s all about having a routine,” he said. “Just doing your routine like you’re playing every day, no matter what. Just go over everything in BP and just be ready. I do go in the cages once or twice during the game just to get myself ready, and just try to be ready when my name gets called.

“Other than that there’s nothing I can do. He’s hitting great right now and even I believe he’s the one that should be playing. So you’ve just got to respect that and be ready when your chance comes.”

Hitting .364 with three RBI so far, Aguilar could get an opportunity to start on Tuesday with left-hander Brett Anderson scheduled to pitch for the Cubs. Aguilar had two hits off Anderson at Miller Park last week, but Thames is hitting .400 with a pair of homers against lefties himself.

Aguilar had started once on the current road trip and was 1 for 6 with a double.

“We’ve got a player that’s playing really well here in Eric and Jesús has done a great job so far,” Counsell said. “He had a pinch-hit at-bat the other night in Cincinnati that he didn’t get a hit but he put a ball in play and got an RBI. That was a big at-bat for us in the game and a good pinchhit at-bat.

“To me, Jesús has done an excellent job the first two weeks of the season.”

Getting close: Matt Garza had his rehabilitation assignment transferred earlier Monday from Class AAA Colorado Springs to Class A Wisconsin in anticipation of lousy weather for the Sky Sox’s game in Nashville, and the game indeed was rained out.

Garza wound up starting for the Timber Rattlers at Clinton, Iowa.

He’s been sidelined since suffering a strained right groin in his final spring-training start.

Garza ended up allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits with eight strikeouts in 52⁄3 innings in an 88-pitch outing against the LumberKings.