Opposite dugout: Mets scuffling as injury bug bites hard

Manager: Terry Collins (7th season)

Record: 8-13

Last 10 games: 1-9

Who to watch: RF Jay Bruce (.289 average with 6 HR, 14 RBIs); OF Michael Conforto (.302 average with 4 HR, 8 RBIs); 2B Neil Walker (17 hits, 27 total bases); SP Jacob deGrom (0-1, 2.55 ERA); RP Addison Reed (3.38 ERA, 4 saves)

Season series vs. Nationals: 0-3

Pitching probables:

April 28: RHP Jacob deGrom vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:05 p.m., MASN2
April 29: RHP Zack Wheeler vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 1:05 p.m., MASN2
April 30: TBA vs. RHP Joe Ross, 1:35 p.m., MASN2

Inside the Mets:

The Nationals and Mets - the two teams most pundits tabbed as the frontrunners for the National League East crown - squared off for the first time this year exactly one week ago. For the Nationals, it was supposed to be a daunting stop amid a brutal road trip, but ended with Washington earning the three-game sweep. Since that series began on April 21, the Nats have gone 6-1. The Mets are still looking for their first win during that stretch.

Similar to a lot of teams, the injury bug has hit New York with a fury. First baseman Lucas Duda and infielder Wilmer Flores are stuck on the 10-day disabled list, while the team's most productive hitter so far, left fielder Yoenis Céspedes, pulled up lame heading into second base during Thursday's loss to the Braves. He left the game with a pulled hamstring and is likely headed to the DL. The temporary departure of Céspedes leaves a bigger hole in the Mets offense. Right fielder Jay Bruce, who leads the team in batting average (.289), home runs (six), RBIs (14), on-base percentage (.379) and hits (22), will be asked to carry the load even more than he's already done. Shortstop Asdrúbal Cabrera is enjoying a nice start to the season at the plate, hitting .310 entering tonight's series opener. He has just one hit in his last five games, however, but has a respectable .264 mark against right-handers.

Speaking of right-handed pitching, both teams will get a heavy dose of it this weekend. Jacob deGrom is still looking for his first win of the season, and it'll be a tough task facing Stephen Strasburg, but deGrom certainly has a chance. He's posted a quality start each time he's come to the mound in 2017 and has tallied 23 strikeouts over his last two outings. The last time Zack Wheeler took the mound, he watched as Nationals second baseman and former Met Daniel Murphy pegged a grand slam in the first inning of Sunday's series finale at Citi Field. Despite the early four-run deficit, Wheeler settled in and allowed just those four earned runs over seven innings. He'll face Nationals righty Max Scherzer, who carries a 3-1 record an 1.95 ERA into Saturday's afternoon matchup. The Mets haven't announced a starter for Sunday yet, but whoever it is will square off against Joe Ross from the Nats. The 23-year-old is 1-0 on the year but hasn't been perfect, allowing at least three runs in both starts.

Reliever Jeurys Familia returned from a 15-game suspension for domestic violence on April 20 and, while manager Terry Collins didn't slot him into the closer's role immediately, reports say Familia will soon be sliding back into the ninth inning. That means reliever Addison Reed, who picked up four saves in Familia's absence, will return to setup duties, along with relievers Hansel Robles and Jerry Blevins, each with an ERA under 2.00 for the year.