Washington manager Dave Martinez confirmed Wednesday that Bell is preparing to be the team's everyday first baseman in 2022, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

EDGE Analysis

Once the news came through earlier in the offseason that MLB was implementing a universal designated hitter, Bell was viewed as a potential candidate for that role, but he'll end up sticking as his familiar first base position after Washington signed Nelson Cruz over the weekend. Bell also picked up six starts in the outfield in 2021 (five in left, one in right), but Martinez suggested that the 29-year-old won't focus on any corner-outfield work this spring. After coming over in a trade from Pittsburgh last winter, Bell enjoyed a productive first season in D.C. He reached base at a .347 clip, trimmed his strikeout rate to 17.8 percent and mashed 52 extra-base hits (including 27 home runs) over 568 plate appearances.

Bell will sit Tuesday against the Rockies, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bell hits the bench with lefty Kyle Freeland on the mound for Colorado. Ryan Zimmerman starts at first base.

Bell went 2-for-3 with one RBI and a walk in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Bell singled in the third inning, driving in Lane Thomas for the first run of the game. He reached base safely three times in eight of his last 16 games. The 28-year-old is slashing .257/.340/.482 with 27 long balls, 86 RBI and 70 runs scored in 530 plate appearances.

Bell is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Rockies, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bell was a fixture in the Nationals' lineup for the last 23 games, so he'll get a deserved breather. He hit well in that span, logging a .310/.423/.609 line with seven home runs, 18 RBI and 11 runs scored across 104 plate appearances. Ryan Zimmerman will start at first base in Bell's absence.

Bell went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and a double in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to Miami.

EDGE Analysis

The first baseman appeared to provide insurance for Washington in the eighth inning, but closer Kyle Finnegan imploded in the ninth inning. Bell has recorded three multi-hit efforts in 15 games in September, batting 15-for-54 (.278) this month. He's up to 27 homers, 83 RBI, 66 runs scored and a .256/.333/.489 slash line in 501 plate appearances overall.

Bell went 1-for-4 with a home run and a walk Wednesday against Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

Bell gave the Nationals a 2-0 cushion when he took Touki Toussaint deep with a solo blast to right-center field in the fourth inning. It was the 25th homer of the year for Bell, the third time he's reached that threshold in his career. He also opened the scoring earlier in the game with an RBI groundout in the first inning that plated leadoff hitter Lane Thomas. The 29-year-old Bell is slashing .252/.324/.480 over 469 plate appearances in his first season with Washington.

Bell went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and a pair of walks in Sunday's 13-6 loss to the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

The first baseman went yard in the first inning to pull Washington within a run. Bell is up to 24 homers, and he's gone yard seven times in 31 games since the start of August. He's slashing .254/.322/.478 with 76 RBI, 61 runs scored and 18 doubles through 454 plate appearances as a reliable slugger in the heart of the order.

Bell went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Sunday's 9-4 loss to the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

The first baseman took Mets starter Tylor Megill deep for a two-run blast in the fourth inning, then followed up with a solo shot off Jeurys Familia in the eighth. Bell has gone deep six times in 24 games in August while batting .256 (22-for-86). For the year, he's slashing .250/.314/.477 with 23 long balls, 73 RBI, 59 runs scored and 16 doubles in 423 plate appearances.

Bell went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

He took Edward Cabrera deep in the seventh inning, going back-to-back with Yadiel Hernandez to account for all of the Nats' scoring on the night. Bell hasn't put together a multi-hit performance since Aug. 5, slashing a tepid .188/.310/.354 over his last 15 games, but he has at least supplied two homers and eight RBI during that stretch. On the season, the 29-year-old is batting .243 with 21 home runs and 68 RBI through 108 contests.

Bell will not start Tuesday against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Bell hits the bench for the second time in three games. He's been slumping over his last 11 contests, hitting .176/.293/.294, though he does have an encouraging 6:3 BB:K over that stretch. Ryan Zimmerman starts at first base in his absence.