JOSH BELL NEWS

Back-to-back jacks kick-start Nats' power surge in Seattle SEATTLE – Following an eight-run loss to the Mariners in the series opener on Tuesday night, veteran Josh Bell looked ahead to the remainder...

MAY 29 • MLB.COM

Hassell hits 1st major league homer and Nationals rout Mariners 9-0

Robert Hassell III had three hits and two RBIs, including his first major league home run, and James Wood also went deep as the Washington Nationals routed the Seattle Mariners 9-0

MAY 29 • Associated Press

Sitting amid struggles vs. lefties Bell is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact The switch-hitting Bell has produced an abysmal .065/.216/.129 over 37 plate appearances against lefties this season, and the Nationals seem content to treat him as a platoon player for the time being. He'll remain on the bench for the second day in a row as the Nationals face off against another Giants lefty (Robbie Ray).

MAY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting amid struggles Bell is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact The switch-hitting Bell has produced an abysmal .065/.216/.129 slash line over 37 plate appearances against lefties this season, and the Nationals seem content to treat him as a platoon player for the time being. He'll remain on the bench for the second day in a row as the Nationals face off against another Giants lefty, this time Robbie Ray.

MAY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Idle Saturday Bell isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Bell will take a seat on the bench Saturday after going 3-for-16 with a homer and two runs scored across his last five games. James Wood will act as Washington's designated hitter instead while Alex Call, Robert Hassell and Daylen Lile start across the outfield.

MAY 24 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Bell altered his swing in search of power. Now he's trying to correct it. Bell, who signed a one-year deal with Washington this winter, entered Monday’s games with the lowest batting average (.156) among qualified...

MAY 20 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Goes yard in Sunday's win Bell went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Orioles.

Impact The veteran slugger took Bryan Baker deep in the eighth inning, the last of five Nats long balls in a 10-4 rout. Bell has six homers and 15 RBI in 40 contests, but he's mostly had a miserable start to the season in his return to Washington -- incredibly, he has yet to collect multiple hits in the same game, leading to a .156/.242/.305 slash line.

MAY 19 • ROTOWIRE

CJ Abrams hits 2 of Nats' 5 homers in 10-4 win for 3-game sweep of skidding Orioles

CJ Abrams went deep on the first two pitches he saw from Zach Eflin, and the Washington Nationals hit five homers in a 10-4 victory over the free-falling Baltimore Orioles for a th...

MAY 18 • Associated Press

Sitting Friday Bell is not in the Nationals' starting lineup against the Orioles on Friday.

Impact Bell will take a break Friday after going 5-for-18 with a 30.0 percent strikeout rate over his last five games. James Wood will serve as the Nationals' designated hitter and bat third against Orioles southpaw Cade Povich.

MAY 16 • ROTOWIRE

Wood drives in go-ahead run in 8th as Nationals end 7-game skid with 5-4 comeback win over Braves

James Wood’s eighth-inning double drove in the go-ahead run and the Washington Nationals rallied to beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 and end their seven-game losing streak

MAY 15 • Associated Press

Verdugo singles in White in bottom of 9th as Braves recover and beat slumping Nationals 4-3

Alex Verdugo’s single off Andrew Chafin drove in Eli White from second base in the bottom of the ninth and the Atlanta Braves recovered after blowing a two-run lead to beat Washing...

MAY 13 • Associated Press

Not starting Saturday Bell isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Bell's early-season struggles continued with an 0-for-3 performance in Friday's series opener, and he'll now take a seat to begin Saturday's game. James Wood will serve as the Nationals' DH with Alex Call filling the void in left field.

MAY 10 • ROTOWIRE

Exiting starting nine Bell is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Guardians.

Impact Bell returned to action in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader after missing the previous four contests with a groin issue. While Bell seems to be healthy now, the Nationals are going with James Wood at designated hitter and Alex Call in left field for Wednesday's series finale.

MAY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Starting in Game 2 Bell (groin) will serve as Washington's designated hitter and bat fourth in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Guardians.

Impact Bell has been out since Saturday due to a groin injury and sat out the first game of Tuesday's twin bill, but he'll return to the starting nine for the nightcap. The 32-year-old has struggled to break out of his slump to start the season, going just 3-for-19 with a homer over his last five games.

MAY 6 • ROTOWIRE

On bench for matinee Bell (groin) is out of the lineup for Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Guardians, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Bell hasn't seen the field since Friday due to the groin issue, and his absence will extend into Game 1 of Tuesday's twin bill. It's unclear if the veteran slugger will be available for the nightcap. James Wood is receiving another look at designated hitter while Alex Call starts in left field with Bell out.

MAY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Remains out Monday Bell (groin) remains out of the lineup for Monday's contest against the Guardians.

Impact It's the third straight start he's missed while nursing a groin injury. There's been no indication that Bell could need a stint on the injured list, but he'll need to make improvement in a hurry. For the third straight game, the Nationals will use James Wood at designated hitter and Alex Call in left field.

MAY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup again Sunday Bell is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Bell will sit for a second straight game due to a groin issue. The veteran slugger didn't see any action Saturday but was reportedly available to pinch hit, so he'll presumably be available in that capacity Sunday.

MAY 4 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with groin issue Bell isn't starting Saturday against the Reds due to a groin issue, but he could be available to pinch hit, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.

Impact It doesn't sound like the Nationals are very concerned about Bell's injury, as Nusbaum notes that the team is "being careful" due to wet weather conditions. The veteran slugger's potential availability to pinch hit also suggests he isn't dealing with a serious issue. With Bell out of his customary DH role Saturday, James Wood is getting a day out of the field as the designated hitter while Alex Call is getting a start in left field.

MAY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Hunter Greene strikes out 12 as Reds beat Nationals 6-1

Hunter Greene struck out 12, the second-highest total of his big league career, while allowing two hits over six innings and leading the Cincinnati Reds over the Washington Nationa...

MAY 3 • Associated Press

Josh Bell's struggles speak loudly as Nationals' offense stays quiet Signed to a one-year deal to address the team’s glaring DH deficiency, the veteran is among one of the league’s worst hitters as calendar tu...

MAY 1 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Bryson Stott scores on wild pitch to cap zany ninth inning as Phillies beat Nationals 7-6

Bryson Stott scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the ninth to cap a zany final inning, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 7-6

APRIL 30 • Associated Press

Getting rest Monday Bell is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mets.

Impact Bell will exit the starting nine for just the third time in 29 games on the season after a rough showing in the Nationals' three-game series with the Mets over the weekend, when he went 1-for-12 with five strikeouts. With Bell on the bench, James Wood will get a day out of the outfield and will serve as Washington's designated hitter.

APRIL 28 • ROTOWIRE

Mashes fourth homer Bell went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Orioles.

Impact After James Wood led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo shot, Bell also took Tomoyuki Sugano deep in the same frame for his fourth homer of the year. Bell does have 10 runs and 11 RBI in 22 games, but he's otherwise had a rough start to 2025 -- he hasn't produced a single multi-hit performance, leaving him with a feeble .141/.256/.321 slash line.

APRIL 24 • ROTOWIRE

Garcia hits tiebreaking sacrifice fly, Wood and Bell homer as Nationals edge Orioles 4-3

Luis Garcia Jr.’s sacrifice fly to deep center plated Alex Call with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth, James Wood led off the game with his eighth homer and the Washing...

APRIL 24 • Associated Press

Crews hits 2 of 4 homers by Nationals, who beat Rockies 12-11 after nearly wasting 10-run lead

Jordan Beck took a called third strike from Kyle Finnegan to end the game with a runner on third, and the Washington Nationals held on to beat the Colorado Rockies 12-11 after near...

APRIL 20 • Associated Press