Chelsea have held talks about signing a “big name” player this month, with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich believed to be “really worried”, according to a new report.

Chelsea brought back down to Earth after Sunderland defeat

After a run of four straight wins in all competitions, Enzo Maresca would be forgiven for thinking they were on for a fifth when summer signing Alejandro Garnacho brilliantly opened the scoring against Sunderland with his first goal for the club.

However, much to the surprise of on-lookers, it was all downhill from that moment.

Sunderland, who have made one of the best starts to a Premier League campaign by a newly-promoted side in years, levelled the score just under 20 minutes later through Wilson Isidor — staying in the game before Chemsdine Talbi fired a glorious winner in added time.

For Regis Le Bris’ side, the fairytale start continues, but for Chelsea, it’s a stark reminder that they’re far from the finished article.

Chelsea haven’t been helped by injuries lately, but going by Maresca’s post-match verdict, he is still far from satisfied with the Blues’ defensive options.

Cole Palmer

Groin

December

Benoit Badiashile

Muscle

December

Dario Essugo

Thigh

Early 2026

Liam Delap

Hamstring

October 29

Levi Colwill

ACL

Spring 2026

Malo Gusto

Suspended

October 29

Maresca publicly urged Chelsea to sign another centre-back in the summer window, and reports suggest that Chelsea are set to prioritise a defensive signing in the January transfer window.

It is also believed that Chelsea have held discussions with Marc Guehi’s camp about a cut-price winter move with his deal expiring next summer, but as per journalist Graeme Bailey, they’re considering another “big name” option for 2026 too.

Chelsea hold discussions this month about signing Dayot Upamecano

That man is apparently Bayern star Dayot Upamecano, who has seriously impressed at the heart of Vincent Kompany’s defence.

While the Bavarians are trying to tie him down with an extension, Upamecano is poised to leave on a free transfer as things stand with his current contract expiring at the end of the season, similar to Guehi.

Bailey, speaking to TBR Football, reports that Chelsea have held discussions this month about signing Upamecano on a free transfer next year — expanding on his point that Bayern are “really worried” he could leave.

The 27-year-old France international is a world-class defender on his day, but it is worth noting that Upamecano was limited to just 20 Bundesliga appearances last season due to a combination of various injury issues and suspension.

That being said, snapping up the former RB Leipzig star on a Bosman poses very little risk for Chelsea financially, even if they could be forced to make him one of Chelsea’s top five best-paid players — given Upamecano’s current terms of around £168,000-per-week.

Hansi Flick refused to abandon Barcelona’s attacking principles despite a chaotic 3-3 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League. The German coach insisted his side’s issues stem from lapses in intensity and not tactics after the Catalans came from behind three times to salvage a point on another frustrating European night.

Barcelona's defensive woes resurface in six-goal thriller

Barcelona’s Champions League campaign hit another roadblock as they were held to a 3-3 draw by Club Brugge in Belgium. It is their ninth consecutive game without a clean sheet, making it the club’s worst defensive run since 2013 when they conceded in 13 straight matches.

Flick’s men found themselves chasing the game all night, with the hosts exploiting Barca’s high defensive line to score three times, each time forcing the visitors to claw back. While the comeback spirit was commendable, the fragility without the ball was impossible to ignore. 

The result leaves Barcelona with seven points from four group-stage matches, still well-positioned but increasingly vulnerable. After the match, Flick cut a frustrated figure, hinting at stern words for his squad while brushing off suggestions that his tactical model was to blame.

AdvertisementAFPFlick stands firm on his 'philosophy' despite Brugge setback

Speaking to after the draw, Flick made it clear that while his team’s lack of intensity was unacceptable, he will not compromise on his footballing principles.

"We can defend in the final third, but we'll stick to our philosophy because we can do better," the German said. "When you lack intensity, you have no chance, especially in the Champions League. Club Brugge played very well, as I expected, and I told the players that. Last year's 1-0 goal would have been two meters offside. But we want to play our game. A 3-3 draw isn't the best result for us, but the positive aspect of the match is that we managed to come back after they took the lead three times. We do need to talk about this, though."

He elaborated further on Barca’s problems in key areas of the pitch: “It’s not just about defending in the back line, but also in midfield. We have to be alert when they create chances in one or two touches. It’s not easy, not easy at all. We did create several chances, but the truth is they played very well. They were very aggressive, obviously in a positive way.”

The 60-year-old admitted his side struggled to impose their usual pressing game, a recurring issue in recent weeks. “The truth is that we haven't been able to press the ball effectively; we've lost many duels, especially in midfield, which was crucial against such fast players. For us, it's about intensity when we don't have the ball. Above all, we need to be alert when they create chances with just one or two touches. I'm sure we'll improve on that.”

Injuries, fatigue and focus – Flick defends his model

The ex-Bayern boss was firm in his response to critics calling for tactical changes, stressing that Barcelona’s problems lie in execution, not ideology.

"This is always about the team, he said. "We did well last Sunday, but today, only a few times. We have to work on this. We're the same team. We know it's not our best moment, but I'm going to look at it positively and think that after the break, when Joan Garcia, Raphinha, and Pedri return, and Olmo and Lewandowski are at a different level, we'll improve."

When asked if it was time to rethink the system, Flick replied with conviction: "I'm not going to repeat myself. The solution isn't to change. We are Barca. Our football is about being active, playing with intensity. With and without the ball. We have to work on this. And when everyone returns from injury, we'll see how it goes."

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GettyFocus turns to Celta Vigo amid growing pressure

Barcelona’s draw in Brugge leaves them 11th in the overall Champions League standings, still in contention but struggling for consistency. Flick now faces the challenge of regrouping a weary squad ahead of Sunday’s La Liga trip to Celta Vigo, with the Catalans sitting second, five points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Despite the turbulence, Flick remains steadfast in his belief that intensity and discipline not tactical overhauls will lead the Catalan giants back to form. As the German put it: “We are Barca. We don’t back down we get better.”

Bangladesh are under pressure, having lost seven ODIs in a row now

Mohammad Isam04-Jul-2025Bangladesh’s batters need to take on more responsibility, according to opener Tanzid Hasan. He was one of two batters to score a half-century against Sri Lanka two days ago, before a dramatic collapse led to a 77-run loss in the first ODI in Colombo.Tanzid said that Bangladesh could have chased 245 – their target on Wednesday – had he and Najmul Hossain Shanto managed to extend their 71-run second-wicket stand. It was Shanto’s run-out, followed by Tanzid’s dismissal later in the same over, that sparked Bangladesh’s implosion: 7 for 5 in just 26 balls.”We had a long discussion about the last match,” Tanzid said. “The coaches told us that on a wicket like this, those who get set need to finish things off since it’s hard for new batters to adjust. They have top quality spinners in their side, so those who are set need to bat as long as possible.Related

Taskin on Bangladesh's 7 for 5 collapse: 'We panicked a bit'

Bangladesh aim to put collapse behind them and challenge Sri Lanka

Those words carry extra weight on the eve of the second ODI which will be taking place at the same venue, the R Premadasa stadium. “The way the wicket is behaving, if someone gets set, he needs to play a long innings and take the team home,” Tanzid said. “Shanto and I, the way we were batting at that time, if we had stayed for another 10-15 overs, the match would have been much easier. Just one message for the next match: for those who are new to the wicket, it’s a bit difficult at first, but set batters need to bat long, bat deep, and take the game to the end.”Tanzid said Bangladesh need to be more mindful of individual match-ups. He explained that the left-handers should have taken more of the strike against the Wanindu Hasaranga, who ran riot during the collapse. The legspinner finished with figures of 4 for 10.”The left-hand batters need to take as much strike as possible since he [Hasaranga] is less effective against left-handers compared to right-handers. So, a few pieces of information like that were given to us, which might help us in the next match.”

“The way the wicket is behaving, if someone gets set, he needs to play a long innings and take the team home.”Tanzid Hasan

When Tanzid and Shanto – both left-handers – were batting together, Bangladesh looked comfortable. The pair struck 12 boundaries between them, forcing Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka to keep Hasaranga out of the attack. Tanzid, however, said he doesn’t rate his 62 too highly.”I don’t think I played well,” he said. “I didn’t fulfill the team’s requirements. If I had, then I would have said that I played well. But there is a chance to make a comeback. It’s a three-match series. One match is done. The next one is important. If we can make a comeback, then , we will still be in contention.”Bangladesh are also under pressure to break a eight-month-long winless streak in ODIs. They have lost seven matches in a row during this time (not counting one that was abandoned to rain in Rawalpindi in February). Additionally, they are missing two of their most experienced batters, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah — a void that was clearly felt in the first game. Bangladesh’s middle order (positions 4 to 6) contributed just one run: Litton Das and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz were dismissed for ducks, while Towhid Hridoy managed just one.This was Bangladesh’s lowest middle-order contribution in ODI history. The last time the middle-order produced a single-digit total was in 2006.

Pep Guardiola has lashed out at Premier League referees, but claims he will never get them to explain their decisions after being on the receiving end of questionable calls for 10 years. The Manchester City boss was left incensed after Anthony Taylor and his team of officials – including those in the VAR booth – allowed a Tyler Adams goal for Bournemouth to stand during Sunday's clash at the Etihad Stadium.

• How USMNT star Adams contributed to Guardiola's anger

  City led that contest midway through the first half courtesy of another effort from prolific Norwegian striker Erling Haaland. Parity was restored, however, when USMNT star Adams hit the net. He did so despite the home side being of the opinion that Gianluigi Donnarumma was impeded.

  The hosts' Italian goalkeeper argued that his arm had been pulled by David Brooks at a corner, preventing him from getting a fist to the ball. With Donnarumma unable to make proper contact with a delivery flighted into his penalty area, Adams was free to bundle home from five yards out.

  City’s protests fell on deaf ears, with Donnarumma being booked for arguing his case. Guardiola was left riled on the touchline, as he turned to supporters and urged them to make more noise and get behind his players. The Catalan coach brought another contentious incident up afterwards, but was quick to explain why he will not be seeking an audience with Taylor and Premier League referee bosses.

Advertisement

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  Guardiola irked by many decisions since 2016

  Guardiola told reporters after being left puzzled by plenty of big decisions across his nine-and-a-half years as Manchester City manager: “I don't call to the officials and the referees, I'm not the manager to do that. I don't do it. Of course they will not call me, but [Brooks went] there and pulled [Donnarumma's arm] down and made it unstable. And after that, I'm sorry to tell you. But I said many times, I know all the referees, I know them one decade perfectly, what is going on in this stadium. I know it.

  “I don't call. I don't have time. My schedule is three games, I have games. I don't have time to waste my time talking. I said to [Taylor] after when we see each other, tell me if it's a foul or not because I'm waiting.

  “If it's a foul or not, just tell me. Just take a look. It's fine. They're brave here. In the Etihad they are brave, so brave. I'm one decade here and we know each other quite well. I'm so pleased with what we achieved with Man City, despite everything, so it has been so good. So good.”

• Guardiola explains why he will not meet with match officials

  It is not the first time that Guardiola has taken aim at Premier League officials. Having been at the Etihad Stadium since 2016, he has previously said of trying to steer clear of debates with those that have a difficult job to do: “I go to the game and I never ever know who is the referee. When I see their face, it’s ‘oh, I remember that face’. I never in my life talk about the referees before, during or after – never ever, ever.

  “A mistake can be a mistake and we are sad, and when it’s in our favour we are lucky. But I don’t waste my time. I have to economise, I have to choose with my time exactly what I have to do. I don’t spend one second (thinking) about referees, especially when we lose. All I am concerned about is what we have to do to play well. The decisions are the decisions and during the season there are moments that help you, sometimes not.”

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  Man City fixtures: Dortmund & Liverpool next on the agenda

  Adams’ goal for Bournemouth counted for little in the grand scheme of things as the Cherries ended up leaving the Etihad Stadium empty-handed. Haaland grabbed his second of the game for City in the 33rd minute – taking him to 17 for the season at club level – before Nico O’Reilly wrapped up a 3-1 win on the hour mark.

  The Blues will be back in Champions League action on Wednesday when playing host to German giants Borussia Dortmund, before then welcoming Liverpool to Manchester for a crunch clash on November 9 that will take both sides into the next international break.

West Ham United are now preparing the documents to sign a “special” attacker, who could be Nuno’s first signing.

Nuno still searching for first win as West Ham boss

After Graham Potter became the second managerial casualty of the Premier League season, West Ham thought Nuno would be the man to turn things around, but the former Nottingham Forest boss hasn’t made the greatest of starts.

The 51-year-old is still searching for his first win since replacing Potter in the dugout, with the Hammers losing their last three games on the spin in the Premier League, which leaves them in 19th place and four points adrift of safety.

The most recent result is likely to be the most concerning, with the Irons falling to a 2-1 defeat against Leeds United at Elland Road, in what could prove to be a real six-pointer come the end of the season.

It was a very poor performance from Nuno’s side, who recorded an xG of just 0.65, which suggests they need to bolster their forward line in the January transfer window if they are to stave off fears of relegation.

According to reporter Alan Nixon (via Caught Offside), West Ham are now preparing the documents to sign Barcelona attacker Dro Fernandez, with a major January recruitment drive now on the cards as a result of their very poor start to the season.

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Fernandez has now emerged as a serious target for the Hammers, and they are looking to be savvy by getting a deal done before his valuation goes through the roof, with the attacker in line to become Nuno’s first signing as manager.

However, the La Liga giants are well-aware of the 17-year-old’s potential, meaning he is likely to have a high valuation, which could potentially be prohibitive.

"Special" Fernandez could be destined for the top

It would perhaps be a surprise if Barca were willing to sanction the teenager’s departure, considering he clearly has a lot of potential, having received very high praise from former coach Javi Roxo in the past.

Roxo said: “Dro was always very special, he has a gift for touching the ball and has always been very creative.

“Dro is capable of everything and if Flick puts him on the wing he can also do well, it won’t be Raphinha but he can look like the Iniesta who played on the left. If he relieves himself of pressure and plays freely, he is capable of anything, his talent is infinite.”

Despite his age, the young Spaniard has already forced his way into first-team contention too, with scout Jacek Kulig left impressed after his recent display in the Champions League.

That said, it would be a gamble for West Ham to sign Fernandez in an effort to get them out of relegation trouble, given his lack of experience, and it may be a better idea to target proven Premier League players.

Glasgow Rangers officially confirmed the departure of head coach Russell Martin on Sunday night after the Ibrox side failed to win for a sixth time in seven Scottish Premiership matches.

The former Scotland international only won five of his 17 matches in charge of Rangers, losing six times, and departs with the the Light Blues sat eighth in the league table.

Martin simply did not get enough wins on the board to win the Ibrox crowd over during his short tenure in Glasgow, which left the club to make a decision this early into the season.

Title-winning manager keen on Rangers job

The attention now turns to his successor. Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart must find a manager who is a better fit at Ibrox to get the season back on track.

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According to Football Insider, Steven Gerrard would jump at the chance to make a ‘sensational’ return to Glasgow to manage Rangers for a second time.

The report claims that the Light Blues will discuss a potential move for the out-of-work English manager when they sit down to identify a long-term replacement for Martin.

It adds that Gerrard is one of the ‘leading’ candidates for the job at this moment in time, although the outlet does not name any of the other contenders for the role.

Stewart and Thelwell could win the fans back over and get Ibrox rocking again by swooping to bring the Liverpool legend back to the club for a second stint in the dugout.

Why Steven Gerrard would get Ibrox rocking again

Rangers welcome Dundee United to Ibrox in the Premiership in the first match after the international break and the home crowd could be rocking for that clash if they see Gerrard back on the sidelines.

It could be a hero’s welcome for the English tactician around four years on from his move to Aston Villa from the Gers, which came after an incredibly successful time on the pitch.

He is, after all, a title-winner for the Light Blues. No manager has won the Premiership title for the club since he lifted the trophy at the end of the 2020/21 campaign. Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, Philippe Clement, Barry Ferguson, and Russell Martin all failed where he succeeded.

Matches

38

12

Wins

32

8

Draws

6

3

Defeats

0

1

Points

102

27

Points per game

2.68

2.25

League position

1st (Champions)

1st

As you can see in the table above, Gerrard’s last 50 matches in charge of the Gers in the league were almost faultless, losing one game, as he turned the Gers into a winning machine.

The former Villa boss, once dubbed “amazing” by Glen Johnson, knows what Rangers are all about, he knows what the supporters want to see, and he knows how to win the Premiership.

Gerrard is the closest thing that the Light Blues can get to a proven manager, given his success at the club before, and that is why he could be the safest option for Stewart and Thelwell to bring in.

It is also why the club could get Ibrox rocking again for that clash with Dundee United after the international break because the fans know that he is a proven tactician who can get the team back on track, and may support and cheer for him accordingly.

He's like Mourinho: 54-year-old manager wants to replace Martin at Rangers

Russell Martin’s job as Rangers manager is no more, so who could be his replacement?

ByMatt Dawson Oct 6, 2025

With their backs against the wall, the New York Mets staged a stunning comeback in the top of the ninth inning during their 4–2 win in Game 3 of the wild-card round series to eliminate the Milwaukee Brewers. It seems no one was more fired up than Jesse Winker, who was one of the runners who crossed the plate during the late-game rally.

A couple of batters after Pete Alonso's three-run homer gave the Mets a 3–2 lead, Starling Marte batted Winker home on an RBI single. After crossing the plate and giving New York a two-run cushion, Winker was so fired up he removed his helmet and promptly smashed it on the ground with both hands in celebration.

His helmet didn't survive the collision with the ground, as pieces of it could be seen scattering after Winker spiked it into the dirt.

It's not difficult to see just how much it means to him, despite having joined the franchise ahead of this year's trade deadline. Winker swiped second base in order to get into scoring position, and that proved to be a game-changing stolen bag, as he was able to come around to score after Marte's base hit.

Here's another look at just how fired up Winker was after crossing the plate.

That's postseason baseball, folks.

Winker, who played for the Brewers in 2022, was ushered back into the dugout by his overjoyed teammates, who knew they had just put themselves within three outs of an NLDS berth. They managed to get those three outs with David Peterson on the mound in the bottom of the ninth, stunning the crowd at American Family Field.

As the ball soared toward the stands, as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured out of their dugout and spilled onto the field, most of the sellout crowd of 52,394 had to be thinking about Kirk Gibson. Another hobbled left-handed slugger, defying common sense and biology, limping to the plate and ending Game 1 of a World Series with a walk-off home run to right field to bring L.A. three wins from the title. 

But as he danced around the bases, Freddie Freeman, the owner of the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history, the scoreboard flashing DODGERS 6, YANKEES 3, was thinking about his dad. 

“He’s been throwing me batting practice since I can remember,” he says. “My swing is because of him. My approach is because of him. I am who I am because of him.” So after he greeted his teammates at home plate, he made his way to the stands, where he found his father in the front row. “If he didn’t love the game of baseball, I wouldn’t be here playing this game,” Freddie says. “So that’s Fred Freeman’s moment right there.”

As for the Gibson comparison—the other most dramatic walk-off in L.A. history, when Gibson, in 1988, fighting a torn tendon in his left leg and a torn ligament in his right, entered as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of Game 1 and blasted a two-run shot—Freeman just grins. 

“I played the whole game, though,” he says. 

If indeed the most important ability is availability, Freeman’s October should put him in the Hall of Fame. He badly sprained his right ankle trying to avoid a tag at first base on Sept. 26, and he has spent the intervening month hobbling from the training table to the infield and back. Doctors suggested he take four to six weeks off. He took eight days. He has missed only three playoff games. He spends hours getting treatment every day, barely making it to the hitters’ meeting. His teammates alternate between drawing inspiration from his grit and wincing every time he does. 

“The game honors you,” says manager Dave Roberts. “When you do things the right way, you play the right way, you’re a good teammate—I just believe that the game honors you. Tonight Freddie was honored.”

Sometimes that insistence on playing the game the right way drives them crazy, though. On Friday, for example, the only people more annoyed than the Yankees when New York left fielder Alex Verdugo misplayed a Freeman grounder were the Dodgers. There was Freeman, legging out a triple. “We’re all, like, ‘Oh no, Verdugo, you should have cut that off!’ ” recalls Dodgers center fielder Kiké Hernández. “ 'Stop him at first or at second!' ”

Says Roberts, “I was happy he came out of it upright.”

Hernández says he is actually glad the Dodgers lost twice in the National League Championship Series to the New York Mets, because a five-game series would have moved up the start of the World Series. Instead they bought themselves three extra days. “The off days were huge [for Freeman],” he says. 

Freeman had not run in a week until he jogged out for introductions before Game 1, but he had begun to feel better two or three days earlier, when he and hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc noticed that he could finally generate power from the ground again. “It’s how he transfers pressure on the inside part of his foot,” Van Scoyoc explains. “He was avoiding that.”

When Freeman was at his worst—late in the NLCS—he was barely able to swing the bat at all. Before Friday, he had not had an extra-base hit since the injury, and he hit .167 in the NLCS. Roberts acknowledged before Game 6 of that series that “you could argue” that Freeman’s insistence on playing was beginning to hurt the team. “But I could also argue that him doing whatever he can to be on the field and to post, I think, speaks loudly in that clubhouse,” Roberts added. For his part, Freeman says that he was unaware of the criticism and does not agree with it. 

But he began lining the ball to left field during batting practice this week, and he knew he was back, or close to it. 

The Yankees were less sure. In the bottom of the 10th, after having taken a 3–2 lead in the top half of the frame, New York reliever Jake Cousins allowed a one-out walk and then a single to bring Shohei Ohtani to the plate. Manager Aaron Boone summoned lefthanded starter Nestor Cortés, who had been out since Sept. 18 with a strained flexor tendon. Ohtani was 2-for-12 against Cortés. “I don't know if you ever love a matchup against Ohtani, but I felt like Nestor could give us a shot at it,” Boone says. Cortés did retire Ohtani on a foul pop to Verdugo, but when the runners advanced to second and third base, leaving first open, Boone elected to walk the righthanded Mookie Betts and go after Freeman. 

“We all thought that Shohei was gonna end it,” says Hernández. “It would have been a fairy tale ending to his first World Series game, but the fact that Freddie was the one that did it—even better.”

Freeman says he understood the decision. Roberts said he watched his first baseman take it personally. “I think he did, and I think he should,” he says. “They’re competitors, and that’s the way it should be.”

“Fre-ddie, Fre-ddie,” the fans chanted. Out in the bullpen, the Dodgers relievers got goosebumps. Freeman decided to look inside—so he could avoid the cutter and the slider—and wait for a fastball. He didn’t have to wait long: First pitch, 93 mph, in and at his knees. He knew it was gone immediately. And as he jogged around the bases, for the first time in a month, his ankle didn’t hurt at all. 

The 2024 MLB season was one to forget for the Chicago White Sox. Unfortunately, it was so bad that it was rather unforgettable.

Heading into the White Sox' season finale against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, Chicago already had lost 121 games, breaking the modern day single-season record set by the New York Mets in their inaugural season in 1962 (120 losses). The 2024 White Sox, who won just three games in July and four games in August, will go down in history as the worst MLB team assembled since 1901.

White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf addressed his team's historically bad season in a long letter he wrote to the fan base on Sunday.

"By all measures, our on-field performance this season was a failure," Reinsdorf wrote. "As the leader of this organization, that is my responsibility. There are no excuses.

"I want to thank you for continuing to support the team throughout what was an embarrassing season. You all deserved better. This season's performance was completely unacceptable and the varying reactions and emotions from our fan base are completely understandable."

Reinsdorf went on to vow that he's determined to turn the franchise around in 2025 and beyond while backing general manager Chris Getz. He also highlighted a few positives in the franchise, like the Double-A Birmingham Barons winning the Southern League and the Single-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers playing in the Carolina League championship series.

The White Sox had a payroll of $133.8 million this season, which ranked 18th in baseball.

Getz and the rest of Chicago's front office will search for their third full-time manager since the 2022 campaign this offseason.

The two MLB teams who employ the Acuna brothers are battling it out this week for a National League playoff spot.

Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr.'s Atlanta Braves are chasing the New York Mets in the NL wild-card race, a team that just called up his younger brother Luisangel Acuna on Sept. 14. The elder Acuna, of course, was ruled out for the season in May when he tore his ACL, but he's at Truist Park this week to root on his Braves and keep an eye on his younger brother.

The 22-year-old Luisangel Acuna told reporters Tuesday that the brothers have a friendly bet on the three-game series that began Tuesday night in Atlanta.

"If they end up winning, [Ronald] is going to post me on Instagram and say, 'Welcome to Atlanta,'" Luisangel told the media through a translator on Tuesday. "But I told him [the Braves] were going to lose."

The Braves, who were 1.5 games back of a playoff spot and two games behind the Mets entering Tuesday's game, took the series opener 5–1 to inch closer to New York in the standings.

The younger Acuna batted ninth and started at shortstop for the Mets on Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with a single. He scored New York's first and only run of the night while his brother intently watched from the dugout.

Following the three-game series at Truist Park, the Braves will wrap up the 2024 regular season against the Kansas City Royals, while the Mets will play the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.