On The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo discuss what is now a large sample size of a concerning lack of offensive production from Brandon Nimmo.

Nimmo had started in every game for the Mets dating back to May 1, and the Red Sox are sending a tough southpaw (Garrett Crochet) to the hill for the series finale, so the veteran outfielder is presumably getting a planned day off Wednesday.

In search of an offensive spark, the Mets have shaken up the lineup for the series finale against the Boston Red Sox, moving Juan Soto down from the second spot to the third and Pete Alonso to the fourth spot in the order. Starling Marte hit second against left-hander Garrett Crochet and the Red Sox and played in left field, giving Nimmo a day off.

New York owns a collective .176 average, .280 on-base percentage and .233 slugging percentage in the last seven games.

Instead of a tie game and another rocky outing for Dedniel Núñez, the Mets reliever tipped his hat as Nimmo — who also doubled and scored off Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes in the fourth inning — bumped chests with Tyrone Taylor in the outfield to celebrate what manager Carlos Mendoza described as a “hell of a play.”

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers play a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Friday at 7:10 p.m. The last time these teams faced off was last year’s NLCS when the Dodgers ended the Mets’ miraculous postseason run -- jumping on both Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga in a Game 6 clinching victory.

New York Mets star outfielder Juan Soto continues his string of controversy on Wednesday even after his new manager Carlos Mendoza defends him to the New York media

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza could not sum up the struggles of his lineup any better.  "We're going through it right now," he said. "No doubt about it." His team had just been shut out by the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night at Fenway Park,