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Jun 5, 2009 - 3:46 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

New York (28-23) at Washington (14-36), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Things couldn't possibly get much worse for the injury-riddled New York Mets. A series against the club with the worst record in the majors could provide some relief.

The Mets look to snap a four-game road losing streak Friday night when they open a three-game set against the Washington Nationals.

New York (28-24) fell 11-6 at Pittsburgh on Thursday, getting swept in the three-game series. The Mets have dropped eight of their last 10 away from Citi Field, dropping them to 11-15.

"We need to put this series behind us, really, and move forward," third baseman David Wright said. "It's funny how this game works. We were playing good baseball before we got here."

More bad news for the club was revealed Thursday as speedy shortstop Jose Reyes has a tear in his right hamstring and reliever J.J. Putz is experiencing pain in his elbow.

Reyes, who has been on the disabled list since May 21 with right calf tendinitis, felt the injury Wednesday during a rehabilitation game and an MRI confirmed the tear.

Putz returned to New York to be examined by team doctors Friday after experiencing sharp pain in his right elbow while allowing two runs and three hits in one inning of relief Thursday. The right-hander was acquired in an offseason trade from Seattle to bolster the bullpen, but in 1 1-3 innings over his last three games he's allowed eight runs and nine hits.

New York also has first baseman Carlos Delgado (hip), right fielder Ryan Church (hamstring) and reserve Angel Pagan (groin) on the disabled list.

Facing the Nationals (14-37) may help the Mets. New York has won 12 of the last 15 meetings, going 5-2 in the nation's capital.

The Mets swept Washington in a three-game set from May 25-27, improving to 5-1 this year against the NL East rivals with all the games played in New York.

The Mets' Tim Redding (0-2, 9.20 ERA) will face his former team after two poor starts. The right-hander has surrendered 13 runs and 16 hits in 8 2-3 total innings.

He was pulled before getting an out in the fifth inning Saturday after giving up seven runs and eight hits in a 7-3 loss to Florida.

"Even as professionals, there are days when you go out there and you are a little intimidated, because you know you don't have your quality stuff," Redding said. "You're pitching scared in a way, just trying to do the best you can."

Redding went 13-17 with a 4.53 ERA in 48 starts over the last two seasons with Washington.

The Nationals are mired in a 4-20 stretch that includes a 3-11 home record.

They lost twice Thursday, falling 5-1 to San Francisco as Randy Johnson became the 24th pitcher to win 300 games, and followed that with a 4-1 defeat after rain halted the contest in the sixth.

Shairon Martis (5-1, 5.62) looks for his first win in four starts after going 0-1 with a 9.56 ERA in his last three.

The rookie right-hander lasted just four innings Saturday, allowing seven runs and seven hits, including two homers, in a 9-6 loss at Philadelphia.

Martis didn't fare well in his only career start against the Mets on Sept. 17, getting reached for six runs and five hits - three homers - in three innings of a 9-7 home loss.