Daniel Murphy with Nats has been biggest plus in race for division crown

Of all the changes to the Nationals this season, such as the bullpen or the resurgence of Wilson Ramos, the biggest positive change is the addition of second baseman Daniel Murphy.

And in no other series is that difference more profound than when Murphy does his damage against the team he guided to the World Series in 2015. Murphy launched seven homers and 11 RBIs in winning the National League Championship Series MVP honors for the Mets last year.

Against his former team, Murphy has been off the charts. Facing the Mets in 2016, Murphy is 15-for-35 (.429) with one double, four homers, 11 RBIs, two walks and six runs scored in nine games.

Mike Rizzo's offseason acquisition of Murphy altered the landscape in the NL East and is the addition for the Nats that has been the biggest subtraction for the Mets.

Speaking to Mets fans in New York City in March, several pointed to Murphy's difficulty on defense, but he has been good there, too. Murphy has kept pace with his replacement on the Mets, former Pirates infielder Neil Walker.

In 74 games this season, Murphy has a .983 fielding percentage with five errors.

In 70 games, Walker has a .987 fielding percentage with four errors.

But the offense by Murphy has been downright MVP quality and has been by far the most consistent part of the Nats offense the entire season.

Walker does have 14 homers for the Mets, but only 31 RBIs. Danny Espinosa had 13 homers the entire season at second base last year. Murphy has reached 14 homers before the halfway mark of 2016.

In the last seven games, Murphy is hitting .345 with 10 hits, two homers and seven RBIs.

For the season, he already has 103 hits and is batting .352. He has 14 homers and 53 RBIs. He had 14 homers and 73 RBIs last season for the Mets. His .590 slugging percentage so far this season is well over 100 points better than any time during his career.

There had been other players, like the Reds' Brandon Phillips, that Rizzo was considering, but he hit a home run in his acquisition of Murphy. Hands down, that acquisition has proven to be the biggest plus for the Nats in a season where they have raced out to a first-place lead with an offense that hasn't always been running on all cylinders.

Murphy's two homers Wednesday in a 4-2 victory over the Mets showed again how in flow and in tune his swing has kept his new team above the fray.