ATLANTA — Ronald Acuña and his little brother Luisangel are going to wait until a game in which both are in the starting lineup for a friendly wager on the outcome.
But Tuesday was significant for the brothers in that it marked the first time both were active MLB players for teams that opposed each other.
Ronald Acuña was the Braves leadoff hitter, with Luisangel on the bench for the Mets.
“I am so happy to see him in the major leagues,” Ronald Acuña told The Post before the Braves rallied to beat the Mets 5-4 in 10 innings.
The elder Acuña missed most of last season rehabbing from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
That included in late September, when Luisangel was the Mets starting shortstop for two games at Truist Park.
“I have been hoping for this moment and last year he was hurt so we didn’t get this opportunity,” Luisangel Acuña said through an interpreter before the series opener between the two teams. “Now that he’s finally back and I am here as well, it’s a dream come true.”
The younger Acuña’s playing time has mostly occurred lately as a defensive replacement — as was the case on Tuesday — and pinch runner as manager Carlos Mendoza juggles infielders.
Luisangel Acuña began the night with a .591 OPS and 11 stolen bases.
“When you play good, and you play good every day, they need to find a spot in the lineup for you,” Ronald Acuña said. “He needs to do his job and play good baseball.”
Brett Baty indicated his right groin was showing improvement, after he left Sunday’s game with tightness.
Baty, who was absent from the starting lineup — with Ronny Mauricio at third base and Jeff McNeil at second — was set to test the groin during pregame drills.
Mark Vientos was in the starting lineup for Triple-A Syracuse as the DH — his first minor league rehab appearance since he was placed on the injured list two weeks ago with a strained right hamstring.
Mendoza said he wasn’t surprised the Braves, who began the day 13 games behind the Mets for first place in the NL East, rearranged their starting rotation for this series.
Chris Sale and Spencer Strider are scheduled to pitch Wednesday and Thursday, respectively for the Braves.
Another top pitcher, Spencer Schwellenbach, was the team’s scheduled starter for the series opener on Tuesday.
“These are important games for them and important games for us,” Mendoza said. “Every game counts so I wasn’t surprised at all.”
