Washington Nationals first baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell will start Wednesday's series finale against the San Diego Padres on the bench at Petco Park. James Wood will serve as the DH and hit second, with Alex Call starting in left field and batting sixth against Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta. Bell still has plenty of pop, but his long swing causes a lot of swing and miss, and he's hitting just .194 (46-for-237) on the year with 10 home runs, 28 RBI and 23 runs scored. The 32-year-old switch-hitter has been slightly better in June, going 15-for-68 (.221) with a homer, three doubles, six RBI, four runs scored, four walks and six strikeouts in 19 games played. Wood is a must-start in normal fantasy leagues every time he's in the lineup. Call, who has been the odd man out in right field due to rookie Daylen Lile's presence, will make his first start since last Friday.

Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz, designated hitter Josh Bell and second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. are all out of the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the visiting Colorado Rockies with a left-hander on the mound. Riley Adams is doing the catching and hitting seventh, James Wood is the DH and is batting second, and Amed Rosario is at the keystone and in the five-hole versus rookie lefty Carson Palmquist. Andres Chaparro is manning first base and batting cleanup. Ruiz actually has reverse splits against lefties in 2025 with a .298 average (14-for-47) with one of his two home runs, but he has been sitting more frequently of late against lefty pitchers. Even though there's a lefty on the mound, Wood is an intriguing DFS play against the rookie southpaw. He's hitting .272 (25-for-92) with five of his 17 homers against lefties on the year.

Washington Nationals first baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell, catcher Keibert Ruiz and second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. are all sitting for Friday's game in D.C. against the visiting Texas Rangers. Outfielder Alex Call is serving as the designated hitter and is batting fifth, Riley Adams is doing the catching and hitting sixth, and Nasim Nunez is starting at the keystone and in the nine-hole of the batting order against Rangers left-hander Patrick Corbin. Nathaniel Lowe is starting at first base and batting cleanup for the Nats. While Ruiz is a switch-hitter, both Bell and Garcia bat from the left side and will get the day off against the left-handed pitcher. Call, Adams and Nunez have never faced Corbin before in their careers. Call has hit over .300 in 48 plate appearances versus southpaws this year, but he's still searching for his first homer.

Washington Nationals designated hitter Josh Bell went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 9-3 win over the Seattle Mariners. He also singled. The Nats and Mariners took a 2-2 tie into the top of the tenth inning when Washington would drop seven runs. Bell capped it with a three-run bomb off Seattle reliever Collin Snider that traveled 386 feet. That marks back-to-back outings with a homer for the veteran and back-to-back multi-hit efforts. Those are both feats he'd yet to accomplish in 2025, and he's been better overall in May, sporting a .233 average with four homers, one double, six RBI, and six runs scored (14-for-60).

Washington Nationals first baseman Josh Bell is not in the starting lineup on Saturday when they continue a series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Bell was dealing with a groin injury earlier in the week. He was able to start on Friday but went 0-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout. As a result, James Wood will shift to the DH spot, which opens left field for Alex Call. The veteran first baseman has had a slow start to the campaign. Through his first 32 contests, Bell has posted a modest .130/.219/.278 slash line with five home runs. Under the hood, the switch-hitter has generated a low .285 xwOBA and a .204 xBA, which are both well below the average marks. This afternoon, the Nationals are worth a look in DFS, facing St. Louis right-hander Andre Pallante, who enters this game holding a 4.75 ERA.

Washington Nationals first baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell (groin) is serving as the DH and is batting cleanup for Game 2 of the team's doubleheader on Tuesday against the visiting Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Ben Lively. This will be the first time that Bell has played since injuring his groin last Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds. The 32-year-old veteran left-handed slugger still has lots of raw power from the left side, but he's been extremely inconsistent so far in 2025 and is typically all or nothing. Bell is hitting .139 (15-for-108) on the season with five home runs, 14 RBI and 12 runs scored in his first 30 games this year. In his last five games, Bell has gone 3-for-19 with a home run. Despite all his swing and miss, Bell has averaged 21 home runs over the last four years.

Washington Nationals first baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell (groin) will not start in Game 1 of the team's doubleheader on Tuesday against the visiting Cleveland Guardians. Bell will miss another game after injuring his groin last Friday. It's unclear if he'll be ready to return for Game 2 on Tuesday against Guardians right-hander Ben Lively. Outfielder James Wood is the DH and is batting third, while Alex Call starts in left field and hits second in Game 1 against Cleveland right-hander Luis L. Ortiz. Bell, who has typically been an all-or-nothing hitter at the plate, is batting just .139 (15-for-108) on the year with five home runs, 14 RBI and 12 runs scored in 30 games played. He has 27 strikeouts and 12 walks in his 121 plate appearances. Wood has one hit in just three career at-bats versus Ortiz, while Call has never faced the Guardians pitcher.

Washington Nationals first baseman Josh Bell (groin) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. The switch-hitting slugger was pulled out of Friday's contest due to a groin issue. As a result, Bell will take a seat on Saturday as well, but he's not expected to be placed on the injured list. The Nats are just going to be cautious and give him a little time to rest and recover. In his absence, James Wood will serve as the designated hitter while Alex Call moves into the outfield on Saturday.

Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz and first baseman Josh Bell are out of the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Riley Adams is behind the dish and is batting eighth, while Nathaniel Lowe is starting at first base and is hitting cleanup for the Nats against Pirates left-hander Andrew Heaney. James Wood is the designated hitter and is batting second. Ruiz is getting his second day off of the season after starting strong with a .317 average (20-for-63) with two homers and 11 RBI. The 26-year-old should be back for Friday's series opener in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. Bell will get the day off against a lefty after going just 3-for-27 with a homer in the last seven games. Adams has gone hitless in just two career at-bats against Heaney, while Lowe has two hits in both of his at-bats against Heaney.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Washington Nationals are signing free agent first baseman Josh Bell to a one-year contract worth $6 million. Bell opened the 2024 campaign with the Miami Marlins before being acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks later in the season. Across 145 total games, the switch-hitter held a .249/.319/.405 line with 19 home runs, 23 doubles, and a 51:210 BB:K ratio. Under the hood, the veteran generated a below-average .310 xwOBA and modest 40.1% hard-hit rate. Bell spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons in D.C. and held an impressive .301/.384/.493 line in 2022. While the Nationals acquired first baseman Nate Lowe earlier this week from Texas, Bell should be penciled into the DH spot on a daily basis. If he can see his power numbers climb, he could be worth a look in deeper NL-only formats.

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Bell stayed red-hot in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader with the hosting Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, blasting two more home runs in the win. After belting an opposite-field solo homer off Guardians right-hander Carlos Carrasco into the left field corner to give the D-backs an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, Bell drove his second long ball of the game, a two-run home run to right field, to extend Arizona's lead to 4-1 in the third frame. The 31-year-old former All-Star slugger has been tearing the cover off the ball lately, batting .352 (19-for-54) with nine dingers, 14 RBI, and 11 runs scored in his last 13 games since July 22.

The Miami Marlins traded first baseman Josh Bell to the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash considerations or a player to be named later. Bell adds another bat to the Diamondbacks, who may be without starting first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) for a while after he left Monday's game against the Washington Nationals with an oblique injury. The Marlins had placed Bell on waivers Monday after he hit .239/.305/.394 with 14 homers, 49 RBI, and 38 runs scored in 104 games. Bell is an interesting waiver-wire option in deeper leagues, as a fresh start with a playoff contender might spark a bat that has had four seasons of at least 20 homers.

The Miami Marlins are reportedly set to put first baseman Josh Bell on outright waivers, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. Bell hit .237 with 14 homers and 47 RBI for the Marlins this season with a .696 OPS. It has been a bit of a struggle in Miami for the left-handed-hitting slugger. Bell could still be claimed by another club on waivers, and a change of scenery could possibly spark a resurgence to close out the year. The 31-year-old didn't work out in Miami but he still can be a decent bat from the left side, should he find the right situation.

Miami Marlins first baseman Josh Bell extended his hitting streak to six games on Saturday evening as he went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and a walk. Bell went deep in the seventh inning to give Miami a four-run lead which scored Bryan De La Cruz and Nick Fortes. This was Bell's fourth straight game, hitting a home run, and fifth straight game tallying at least two hits. The switch-hitting infielder has had a difficult season but this recent surge could suggest the former second-round pick is beginning to turn the corner. Bell could be worth a look in standard leagues going forward and a popular play in DFS during this stretch.

Miami Marlins first baseman Josh Bell went 1-for-3 with two walks, two RBI and a solo home run in Monday's loss versus the New York Mets. Bell has been in a huge slump over the past month, with just 13 hits over his last 87 at-bats and Monday's homer was just his second during that span. The veteran is likely to be a trade candidate at the upcoming trade deadline with the club likely to look at younger options in the second half. Bell, 31, has not shown the power that he has in the past and is hitting a weak .225 with 10 homers and 42 RBI in 98 games. He can safely be left on the waiver wire in all formats.

The Miami Herald's Craig Mish writes that it's unlikely that the Miami Marlins will be able to trade first baseman Josh Bell at the deadline at the end of July. Bell is making $8 million this year while also hitting just .229 (77-for-336) with eight home runs, 37 RBI and 31 runs scored in 88 games in his first full year in Miami. He also has an on-base percentage below .300 and a below-average .646 OPS while striking out 69 times in 371 plate appearances. The Fish would love to trade Bell this summer, but it's unlikely a contending team will want to take on that salary for a declining power hitter that also doesn't provide much with his glove at the cold corner. Bell has also gotten off to a slow start in July with just one hit in 22 at-bats (.046) with a double, two RBI and six strikeouts in five games.

Both Miami Marlins first baseman Josh Bell and outfielder Jesus Sanchez will retreat to the bench on Saturday with the visiting Chicago White throwing a left-hander. Jake Burger will start at first base and bat third, while Dane Myers will draw into right field and serve as the cleanup hitter against White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet, who has been one of the best starters in baseball in the first half. Emmanuel Rivera also draws into the lineup at third base while batting fifth for the Fish. Bell has hit only .216 (24-for-111) with three of his eight homers this year against southpaws, while Sanchez has been even worse against lefties with a .093 average (4-for-43) with one of his nine long balls. Both left-handed hitters have decent power from the left side but have been below-average hitters for fantasy managers in 2024.

Miami Marlins first baseman Josh Bell went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Saturday's 10-9 victory over the New York Mets. With runners on first and second base, Bell took Mets closer Edwin Diaz deep in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game 9-9. The Marlins scored another run in the 10th inning to eventually win the game. The 31-year-old is starting to heat up at the plate and has multi-hit efforts in four of his last five games. He is slashing .229/.315/.366 with six home runs, 24 RBI, and 20 runs over 47 games in 2024. Fantasy managers can use Bell as a streamer in most leagues while he's swinging a hot bat.

Miami Marlins first baseman Josh Bell went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer in Thursday's loss versus the St. Louis Cardinals. Bell hit his first blast off Lance Lynn in the bottom of the fifth inning, but it wouldn't be enough to give the Marlins their first victory of the season. The switch-hitter has always shown power in his bat and has been slotted into the No. 2 in the lineup thus far. Bell will not make a huge dent with a career .259 batting average and his power could useful for managers looking for infield or first base help in deeper formats. The Marlins have Friday off, but Bell will look to build off his performance against Steven Matz and the Cardinals on Saturday.

Miami Marlins first baseman Josh Bell has been off to a slow start this spring with just three hits and two walks over his first 13 at-bats. To be fair, most of the Marlins hitters have been ice-cold thus far in the Grapefruit League. Bell, 31, was acquired by the Marlins last season at the trade deadline and fared well with a .270 batting average to go along with 11 homers and 26 RBI in 53 games down the stretch for Miami. The most likely scenario remains that Bell will be the Opening Day first baseman, but the Marlins have Luis Arraez who can slide to first if any of their young infielders, such as Vidal Brujan and Xavier Edwards have strong springs. For now, Bell remains a power bat with a low batting average, but managers can never have too much power and he is worth a look with an ADP of 296.