Cincinnati Reds' Noelvi Marte off bench but not starting

NEW YORK — The Cincinnati Reds won four straight in their series opener against the Mets in New York on Friday.

What they didn’t account for in that opener was a starting lineup that featured young, sub-.200 hitters like Noelvi Marte and Will Benson. Again.

Neither has started since Sunday.

Asked specifically about Marte, the rookie who has struggled in every aspect of his game since returning from an 80-game steroid suspension, Bell said the 22-year-old third baseman was not being benched or otherwise penalized as part of a plan for the final weeks of the season.

“Where I left it with Noelvi – and I talk to him every day – is either he starts the game and he just gets ready for the game or he doesn’t and he gets as much work as he can that day and still be ready to come and help us win a game,” Bell said.

“It’s really a day-to-day matter. No more important decisions have been made regarding Noelvi.”

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Marte is hitting just .198 in 51 games since returning from an 80-game steroid suspension, and the third baseman has performed poorly overall in the field, including recent errors both in the field and on the bases.

Santiago Espinal started at third base in all three games of the home series against the Houston Astros, after coming off the bench in the 11th inning Sunday to hit the game-winning infield single to beat the Brewers. He was back in the lineup at third Friday.

“It’s more about guys playing well, hitting the bat well,” Bell said of players like Espinal and veteran Amed Rosario, who has also started the last four games, partly at the expense of struggling Will Benson (.193 this season).

“I would say Will Benson has been in the same situation as Noelvi,” Bell said. “It could change at any time, any day. We try to get them playing live so they’re ready. Their opportunity is going to come again. They have to be ready for that.”