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Washington Nationals’ lineup for the 2nd of 3 with the Philadelphia Phillies in CBP...

Here’s how Daniel “Multi-hit Game” Murphy and the Nats are lining up for the second of three with the Phillies.

By Patrick Reddington
MLB: Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Daniel Murphy finished his first season in D.C. ranked first in the National League in SLG (.595), OPS (.985) and doubles (with 47); second in AVG (at .347) and fifth in multi-hit games (with 56).

He finished second in voting for the NL MVP and as the Washington Nationals noted in their postseason wrap-up, he, “joined Rogers Hornsby (H.O.F., 1942) as the only second basemen to hit at least .347 with 25 HR, 104 RBI and a .595 SLG in a single season.”

He also set Nationals’ franchise records for hits in a season (184) and doubles (47).

Murphy’s preparation for the 2017 campaign, and the second year of his 3-year/$37.5M with the Nationals was set back by his (lack of) participation in the World Baseball Classic in March, and according to his manager, Dusty Baker, Murphy wasn’t at 100% in terms of his swing and timing when the season began.

“Murphy hadn’t had many at bats, so he’s behind,” Baker said when asked about how he lined things up on Opening Day.

Murphy went 2 for 4 in the season opener and in every game since, leaving him 8 for 17 (.471/.500/.706) with a double and a home run in four games so far.

Still, and opposing pitchers probably don’t want to hear this, Baker told reporters after Murphy hit a home run and a double in the Nationals’ 7-6 win last night in Citizens Bank Park, Murphy isn’t 100% up to speed just yet.

“He’s still not right,” Baker said. “He’s almost right. You don’t see him chasing pitches down in the zone much. He’s about to get right.

“We’ve got to get a couple other guys right. We’ve got to get Trea [Turner] right. We’ve got to get Anthony Rendon right. So then we’ll really be clicking then.”

Turner is 2 for 18 with 7 Ks in four games.

Rendon, who connected for his first hit of the 2017 campaign yesterday, after missing the season opener with a left calf bruise, is 1 for 11 so far with two walks and four Ks over three games.

All three are in the lineup for the second of three with the Philadelphia Phillies:

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