MLB

Mets’ Murphy stays hot, but ready for a few days off

Despite having just rediscovered his swing, Daniel Murphy says the All-Star break came at a perfect time for the tired Mets. A disappointing 7-0 loss to the Cubs yesterday at Citi Field ended the season’s first half, and Murphy feels the four days off will help them get healed and healthy to contend in the second half.

“I don’t think the break could’ve come at a better time. We get [four] days closer to getting [Jason] Bay back, Frank Francisco, and it makes for a dangerous ballclub back in the second half,’’ said Murphy, who went 3-of-4 yesterday.

After working through a 4-for-30 skid, Murphy broke out with two homers in a June 27 rout at Wrigley Field. He has hit .487 with 15 RBIs in his starts since then, heading into the break batting .295.

“We’re six games over and put ourselves in a good position going into the second half and we’re just going to get healthier,” he said. “I’d rather be 10 [over,] but I’ll take six.’’

Few would have expected the Mets to be 46-40 at the break, considering all the question marks surrounding them in the spring. Murphy was one, whether he could stay healthy long enough to allow his bat to thrive — or make enough plays at second base to stay in the lineup. He’s done both.

“It’s nice to see your work pay off, and even more to be able to have the manager and the ballclub trust you enough to not feel it necessary to bring somebody in as a defensive replacement,’’ Murphy said.

“I’ve still got a long way to go. There are still some plays I don’t make that I should, still some things that happen that are brand new to me. I’m excited about where I’ve come. But I’ve got a long way to go.’’

Though Murphy has committed a team-high nine errors, his glove hasn’t cost the Mets, thanks to his dogged work with Tim Teufel. With Ike Davis struggling for the first 2 1/2 months and Lucas Duda slumping into the break, the Mets have needed Murphy’s bat in front of David Wright. And for the most part it’s been there.

“I’m just trying to stay balanced with my legs and square the ball up,’’ Murphy said. “Success just builds on itself. It was a lineup that was already swinging the bat well, and it’s nice to be a part of it. You find a little bit of success and you trick yourself into thinking you’re feeling good because you’re getting hits and then all of a sudden you are feeling good.’’

brian.lewis@nypost.com