3 difficult decisions David Bell must make to bolster the Reds' playoff chances

3. Reds manager David Bell needs to limit his platoon lineups.

This might be the hardest thing in the world for David Bell to do. It's become a running joke for many of the Cincinnati faithful to openly laugh when Bell's lineup card is revealed.

This past week, there were occurences when Bell had Nick Martini inexpicably batting second in the lineup against right-handed pitching. Thankfully, Bell went back to India atop the batting order on Monday versus the Minnesota Twins with TJ Friedl batting in the No. 2 spot.

I'm not completely against the platoon. In fact, there's plenty of times when it has merit. If the Reds are facing a lefty, Nick Senzel should unquestionably be in the lineup and batting second with Jake Fraley and Will Benson riding the bench.

This isn't to suggest that David Bell should abandon the idea of the platoon altogether, but with Harrison Bader on the IL and Hunter Renfroe having been handed his walking papers, the Reds skipper is running out of platoon options anyway.

There are 10 games left in the season, and the Cincinnati Reds need to win as many as they can. Nick Martini and Stuart Fairchild need to remain on the bench as pinch hitters/ runners only. David Bell, I know you want to write their name on that lineup card somewhere, but please resist the urge.