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Nationals Player Of The Week (5/2-5/8): Daniel Murphy

By Ricky Keeler |
May 4, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Washington Nationals second basemen Daniel Murphy (20) hits a solo home run against the Kansas City Royals during the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Washington Nationals second basemen Daniel Murphy (20) hits a solo home run against the Kansas City Royals during the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

For the second time this year, Washington Nationals’ second baseman Daniel Murphy is our player of the week

This week, the Nationals went 2-5 in their seven games against the Royals and the Cubs. While the record wasn’t good, there were still some candidates for player of the week. Bryce Harper walked 13 times in four games against the Cubs and had a .563 on-base percentage, Wilson Ramos hit .458, and Tanner Roark gave up three earned runs in 13.1 innings.

However, this week’s player of the week gets the award for the second time this season. That player is second baseman Daniel Murphy. This week, Murphy started in six games and pinch-hit in the ninth inning of Saturday’s loss in Chicago. He went 14-for-29 (.485) with eight runs scored, four doubles, two home runs, and five RBI’s.

The highlight of Murphy’s week was the two four-hit performances that he had. In Wednesday’s 13-2 win, he went 4-for-5, including a home run off his old teammate with the Mets, Dillon Gee. Two days later, at Wrigley Field, he went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and a double in a 8-6 loss.

Right now, it is safe to say that Murphy is the most consistent hitter on the Nationals through the first 31 games. He is third in the National League in batting average (.395) and .OPS (1.079), fifth in on-base percentage (.439) and slugging percentage (.640), and tied for second in doubles (12).

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If you look at just this week, Murphy’s 14 hits were second in all of baseball behind the Mariners’ Robinson Cano (16). He may not hit the ball out of the yard often, but he does find ways to get on base at a consistent rate. With that being said, it is definitely time for a change in the lineup for him.

After Harper was put on base seven times yesterday without getting a hit and Ryan Zimmerman left 14 men on base by himself, the Washington Nationals need to put someone behind Harper who can consistently make teams pay and jumpstart the offense a bit.

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In addition, for a team that struggles to hit with runners in scoring position, Murphy is their best player in those situation. He leads the team in average (.458), third in RBI’s behind Jayson Werth (14) and Harper 15), and second with a .536 on-base percentage (Harper is first at .621).

With the way Murphy is locked in at the plate right now, he could get several more players of the week if he continues at this pace. With the Washington Nationals struggling to find offense consistently, it makes you wonder where this team would be without Murphy’s consistency.

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