Nationals want to make Anthony Rendon a reluctant All-Star: “He wants to go ... he just doesn’t know it yet.”

Anthony Rendon started the night on Thursday with a 27-game on-base streak going, over which the 29-year-old Washington Nationals’ third baseman was 33 for 99 (.333/.450/.687) with seven doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 21 walks, and 15 Ks in 120 PAs.

Rendon was ranked first among qualified National League third basemen in OBP (.421), SLG (.655), wRC+ (173), wOBA (.438), OPS+ (173), was tied for first in doubles (19). Rendon’s .320 AVG was second best among NL third basemen, and he was tied for the lead in fWAR (3.1).

Rendon was, however, fifth in voting for the National League’s starting spot at third for the 2019 All-Star Game when the early returns on the primary voting were released, some 95K behind the top three vote-getters who will move on to the next round.

Of course, Rendon probably isn’t too upset with the results, though he could (and probably will) be added to the NL roster as a reserve if he doesn’t see a surge in support.

“Sure, I’d love to be an All-Star, but without going, if that’s possible,” Rendon sort-of joked last month when asked about potentially going to his first Mid-summer Classic.

“I’m just trying to go out here and play baseball,” he said. “I’m not worried about — whatever happens, happens. I just take it one day at a time.”

While the 2011 1st Round pick has taken his trademark laissez-faire approach to promoting himself, his teammates took up the cause on his behalf, stumping for him in a video MASN posted before the series opener with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night.

“He deserves to go,” right fielder Adam Eaton said, “even if he doesn’t want to go.”

“I think everyone should send him in spite, just get him there. Get him to Cleveland. He wants to go. Get him there, he just doesn’t know it yet.”

“He really, really wants to go to the All-Star Game, more than anybody wants to go, so we have to get him there,” second baseman Brian Dozier deadpanned.

“I told him the other day I can’t wait to be drinking a Corona on the beach and watching him trying to hit a slider and he was very [envious] of that,” Dozier added, “but he really wants to go, so let’s make sure he goes.”