Washington Nationals left fielder Joey Wiemer sprints to first against the Chicago Cubs. Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Historic streak ends for Nationals' outfielder

By Zachary Cariola | Last updated Mar 31, 2026 10:05 AM ET

Washington Nationals outfielder Joey Wiemer’s historic streak of reaching base in every plate appearance this season ended in the fifth inning Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Wiemer became the second player in the live ball era (1920) to reach base 10 consecutive times at the beginning of a season, joining Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Carlos Delgado, who did it in 2002. New York Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra had nine to begin the 1956 season.

In the 13-2 win against the Phillies, Wiemer went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored.

Wiemer’s streak would have ended in the first inning, but his out call at first base was overturned.

The Nationals and Joey Wiemer are performing better than expected

The Nationals have scored in bunches this season. Washington scored 10 runs against the Chicago Cubs on Opening Day, bouncing left-hander Matthew Boyd from the game. Boyd accounted for six runs (all earned) in 3.2 innings.

The Nationals' offense, despite a small sample size, is third best in the big leagues (.299 BA) and within the top five for home runs (six).

Wiemer, who has played for four teams in his four-year career, has been a major part of the strong offense. In three games, Wiemer is hitting .800 with two home runs, four RBI and three walks. Wiemer has not struck out in 10 at-bats (13 plate appearances).

Up until this season, Wiemer had been a career .216 hitter. But he has significantly changed his batting stance and perhaps turned a corner as a hitter.

The Nationals (3-1) are off to a good start, but Washington hasn't had a winning record since 2019.

Zachary Cariola

My name is Zachary Cariola and I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My areas of expertise are MLB, NBA, and NFL. When I’m not writing, I love spending time with my family and learning history.

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