(Photo credit score: Matt Marton-Imagn Images)
Joey Wiemer’s first week with the Washington Nationals could not be going significantly better.Fresh off two robust performances in the course of the season’s opening weekend, Wiemer leads the Nationals into Monday’s opener of a three-game collection on the Philadelphia Phillies.On his fourth main league group since debuting in 2023, Wiemer has reached base in all eight of his plate appearances with Washington. The outfielder went 3-for-3 with a house run and a stroll in Thursday’s season-opening 10-4 win over the host Chicago Cubs, then duplicated that effort in Sunday’s 6-3 triumph to assist safe a collection victory.Along the best way, Wiemer turned the primary participant in franchise historical past (Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals) to succeed in base in every of his first eight plate appearances with the group. He can also be tied with two different gamers for probably the most consecutive plate appearances reaching base to start a tenure with any MLB membership since no less than 1961.’It means rather a lot,’ mentioned Wiemer, 27, who performed for the Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins earlier than becoming a member of Washington. ‘I’ve put in a whole lot of work. It’s been a winding highway, so head down and hold going.’Keibert Ruiz additionally homered in Sunday’s win for the Nationals, who will flip to Foster Griffin for his first main league outing since 2022 and first profession begin.The 30-year-old left-hander spent the final three seasons enjoying in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants. He was an All-Star within the Nippon Professional Baseball league final 12 months, when he went 6-1 with a 1.62 ERA.’He has that presence that he is assured and has been there and may sluggish issues down, that you simply like when he is on the market since you belief what he is going to have the ability to do and is aware of what he is doing,’ first-year Washington supervisor Blake Butera mentioned.Griffin will face a Philadelphia lineup that endured a troublesome opening weekend. The Phillies managed only one hit within the first eight innings in Saturday’s 5-4, 10-inning loss to the Texas Rangers, then they had been no-hit by 5 frames Sunday in an 8-3 defeat.’We’ve bought to get one thing going earlier in video games, clearly,’ Philadelphia supervisor Rob Thomson mentioned. ‘I believe everyone within the lineup is attempting to get off to a very good begin. They’re perhaps a little bit bit anxious. They’ll settle in.’Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm, Adolis Garcia and J.T. Realmuto are all hitting .200 or decrease.’Everybody desires to get off to a very good begin, however typically it does not occur,’ Turner mentioned.Taijuan Walker (5-8, 4.08 ERA in 2025) makes his season debut for Philadelphia after a bounce-back 12 months wherein he was usually productive in 21 begins and 13 reduction outings.The veteran right-hander is 2-3 with a 3.56 ERA in 10 lifetime begins towards the Nationals.This time he’ll be unveiling a brand new pitch — a slider — as a part of his arsenal.’I really feel prefer to righties, it is (traditionally been) largely cutter, splitter, and I believe a whole lot of groups know that,’ he mentioned. ‘So simply including that pitch that goes away from them, as an alternative of coming in, has type of been an enormous weapon for me.’–Field Level Media