The Nationals started the 2026 season by taking two of three from the Cubs at Wrigley Field, a strong start to the Blake Butera era. But opening weekend will probably be remembered less for the series win and more for the complete opposite starts from Joey Wiemer and James Wood.
Joey Wiemer had the series of his life
Joey Wiemer was not supposed to be the story of opening weekend. He entered the season as a depth outfielder known for his defense and versatility. After just two games with the Nationals, he somehow emerged as one of the hottest hitters in baseball.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Wiemer became the first player in Nationals and Expos history to reach base in each of his first eight plate appearances with the club. That stretch also tied the modern MLB record for most consecutive plate appearances reaching base to begin a tenure with a team.
Wiemer went 6 for 6 with two home runs, a triple and two walks. He also became the first Nationals player since 2005 to homer in each of his first two games with the club. After the opening weekend, he sits with an absurd 3.333 OPS.
Wiemer has bounced around rosters and been designated for assignment multiple times over the last year, so a weekend like this is a big deal for him. Now whether he can keep the hot bat going remains an open question. But he has already given the Nationals a huge early boost and made himself someone to watch moving forward.
James Wood is already struggling
While Wiemer was making history, James Wood experienced a very different start to the season. The Nationals’ star, 2025 All Star and Home Run Derby participant went just 1 for 13 to open the year, hitting .077 with seven strikeouts. Despite his one hit being a home run, he still only has a .451 OPS after the opening weekend.
The strikeouts present the bigger concern. Wood struck out seven times in 13 at bats, and this comes after he hit just .111 with a .556 OPS during spring training. The power is still there, but right now remains mostly untapped because of the swing and miss issue.
The Nationals can get production from many different places this year, but in reality, this team still goes as James Wood goes. When he is hitting, the lineup feels dangerous. When he is not, the lineup feels very different. The good news for Washington is that with the season only one series old, Wood will have a chance to get back on track today against the Phillies.
If you told Nationals fans before the season that a player with the initials J.W. would reach base eight straight times, hit two home runs and post a 3.333 OPS in the opening series, everyone would have assumed it was James Wood. Instead, Joey Wiemer accomplished those feats. One is a bench outfielder fighting for playing time. The other is an All-Star leading the franchise. After one weekend, though, it was Wiemer who looked like the star and Wood who is still trying to get going.