Bell went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

Bell finally opened up the scoring in the sixth when took a first-pitch hanging curveball over the wall in right to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Despite hitting his first home run as a National, Bell has struggled mightily in his first week back since returning from the COVID-19 injured list. The 28-year-old is slashing just .143/.242/.321 and has only four hits and has struck out at least once in all eight games so far.

Bell is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

Bell will give way to Ryan Zimmerman at first base after starting in each of the first three games of the series. Since being activated from the COVID-19 injured list Monday, Bell has started in five of the Nationals' seven games, going 2-for-19 with four runs and two RBI.

Bell isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bell reached base safely in his first two games of the season to begin the week. He went 1-for-6 with three runs, three walks and two strikeouts during that time. However, he'll get a routine day off Wednesday with Ryan Zimmerman starting at first base, batting third.

Bell went 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored in Monday's win over the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

Making his first appearance for the Nationals after an offseason trade from the Pirates and then a delayed start to the campaign due to COVID-19 protocols, Bell slotted immediately into the cleanup spot and showed good patience. While he's coming off a rough 2020, hitting behind Trea Turner and Juan Soto should provide Bell with all the RBI opportunities he could ask for, and if he rediscovers his 2019 form, he'll provide a huge boost to the Washington offense.

Bell is starting Monday's game against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

Bell will join the Nationals' lineup for the first time after he was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Monday. He'll bat fourth and start at first base for the series opener against the Cardinals. Bell should fill the strong side of a platoon at first base going forward while Ryan Zimmerman mainly starts against left-handed pitchers.

The Nationals reinstated Bell from the COVID-19 injured list Monday.

EDGE Analysis

One of 11 Nationals placed on the COVID-19 IL ahead of Opening Day, Bell will be ready to debut for Washington after completing a mandatory quarantine and passing all phases of MLB's health and safety protocol. Washington has yet to release a lineup for Monday's series opener in St. Louis, but Bell will presumably start at first base in place of Ryan Zimmerman, who had been serving as the team's primary option at the position for the first week of the season. Bell should fill the strong side of a platoon at first base, while the right-handed Zimmerman draws most of the starts versus lefty pitching.

Bell could be cleared through the league's COVID-19 protocols as soon as Monday but will likely need another day or two afterward to get ready to rejoin the lineup, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Harrison could all be back in action early this week provided they received clearance by Monday. The Nats could certainly use three members of their expected starting lineup back after losing five straight games and getting shut out three times in the last four, but there's no guarantee the trio is able to shake off the rust quickly. Bell should slot in as Washington's primary cleanup hitter and first baseman once he makes his season debut.

The Nationals placed Bell on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bell is one of nine Nationals players on the 40-man roster who will begin the campaign on the IL as a result of the team's recent COVID-19 outbreak. Prior reports have suggested that only four of the players in question tested positive for the virus, but it's uncertain whether Bell is one of the infected players or merely a close contact. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, players who tested positive will be eligible to return after 10 days in quarantine, while those ruled out through contact tracing can return after a week. With Bell on the shelf for at least the next 7-to-10 days, Ryan Zimmerman is projected to serve as the Nationals' primary option at first base.

Bell was not on the field for the Nationals' workout Monday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eleven players in total are reported to be in quarantine for the Nats due to positive COVID-19 tests or being designated a close contact, and Bell's absence from the workout suggests he's probably in one of those groups. If he's one of the latter, he could still be cleared to play in time for Tuesday's game against Atlanta, but assuming Bell isn't in the lineup, Ryan Zimmerman would get the nod at first base against southpaw Drew Smyly.

Bell went 1-for-3 with a home run and a strikeout in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

The switch hitting slugger took Jake Odorizzi deep as part of a five-run first inning for the Nats. Bell has been locked in at the plate and is now hitting .385 (15-for-39) with five doubles and a team-leading five homers this spring. If he can carry that momentum forward into the regular season, a repeat of his massive 2019 first half could be in the cards.