SAN DIEGO -- Hoping to kickstart a dormant Reds offense, manager David Bell put Joey Votto in the leadoff spot this week. A ripple effect of that lineup construction showed itself on Thursday.

For the first time in his young managerial career, Bell listed a pitcher in the No. 8 spot and a position player at No. 9. Tanner Roark had the honor as the pitcher against the Padres, and catcher Tucker Barnhart took the No. 9 spot.

Roark batted .190 with eight RBIs last year, but his ability with the bat was not the driving force for the lineup change. Rather, it was Votto’s presence atop the lineup. Bell moved Votto into the leadoff spot on Tuesday against the Dodgers, and the first baseman now has been there for three straight games.

“It gives us one more opportunity to have somebody on base ahead of Joey,” Bell said.

With nine walks through his first 14 games this season, Barnhart has a healthy .409 on-base percentage. His career mark is .330. Votto has a career .426 OBP, which prompted his move to the leadoff spot as Bell searches for a way to ignite the offense.

In theory, Barnhart and Votto batting back to back also could provide RBI opportunities for Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker, who batted in the second and third holes Thursday.

Cincinnati entered Thursday last in the Major Leagues with a .200 team batting average, and next to last in the National League with 58 runs. (Miami had 48.)

Despite the lack of offense and a 5-12 start, Bell remains optimistic. No overturned postgame spreads or angry team meetings just yet.

“There’s been so many good things to take out of the first [three] weeks of this season,” Bell said. “We’ve really stayed connected as a team. When you’re doing that when you’re not winning, that says a lot about this group.

“We’ve really come together. There’s a lot of unselfish players that want to win. Every day, they’re helping each other. That says so much. When you have that as a team, you have a chance to be the best you can be.”

Injury updates

• Outfielder Nick Senzel, the No. 5 overall prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, was 1-for-3 in an extended spring game on Wednesday in Arizona. He has been sidelined since March 25 with a sprained right ankle.

• Left-hander Alex Wood (lower back) remains scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday at Goodyear.