Nationals Magic Number provides daily updates as the Washington Nationals try to win their division. Today’s magic number for the Nats to clinch the N.L. East: 6

What else is 6: This edition is a tribute to the player who wears No. 6, infielder Anthony Rendon. The best athletes are usually arrogant, dull, or aloof, but Rendon is arguably both the best and most likable Nats player. Part of it is that Rendon is always smiling and seems so relaxed during games. There was also the excellent mullet his teammates gave him during his rookie season, a ‘do that Rendon fully embraced. There was his amusing comment that he doesn’t watch baseball on TV because “it’s too long and boring”—-he prefers the History channel instead. There was his yawning during games, then standing up for himself: “What’s wrong with that? It’s just lack of oxygen to the brain.” As for his actual play, on the day the magic number for the Nats reached six, the advanced stats have Rendon ranked as the sixth-best position player in the entire league.

What happened yesterday: The Nats beat the New York Mets 10-3, while the second-place Braves lost for the second consecutive day to baseball’s worst team, the Texas Rangers.

What’s happening today: The Nats wrap up their series in New York at 1:10 p.m., and the Braves play the Rangers in Texas starting at 3:05 p.m.