Jason Bay's recent performance at the plate, along with impressive starting pitching

Jason Bay's recent performance at the plate, along with impressive starting pitching, has likely made coping with Jose Reyes' absence all the more easy on the New York Mets.

With Reyes unlikely to be available, the Mets look for a fourth consecutive victory Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who in contrast hope to avoid matching their longest losing streak of the year.

Reyes, who leads the majors with a .354 average, is expected to miss his fourth straight game as he continues to deal with a strained left hamstring suffered during Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Yankees.

"It's better than (Monday), but it's still not quite what it needs to be," he said Tuesday.

Reyes' injury creates a big hole atop the Mets' lineup, but New York (44-42) doesn't seem to have missed a beat thanks in large part to Bay's production.

Bay, who drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the 10th inning Sunday, helped extend the club's winning streak to three by hitting two home runs and driving in a season best-tying four in a 6-0 win Tuesday.

"I try not to get too high or too low," said Bay, batting .367 with three homers and 12 RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak. "At times, it's easier said than done, but I'm happy lately with the way things have been going. A lot of it is a confidence thing and a preparedness thing."

While Bay has carried the offense, the starters have gone 2-0 and compiled a 1.59 ERA during the winning streak. Mike Pelfrey followed up Chris Capuano's solid effort in Monday's 5-2 victory with six strong innings Tuesday, a trend Jonathon Niese (7-7, 3.72) will try to continue.

Niese, who surrendered three runs and a season-high nine hits over six innings of Friday's 5-1 defeat to the Yankees, is likely looking forward to getting back on the road, where he's won three straight starts with a 2.29 ERA.

The left-hander gave up three runs in 5 2-3 innings and didn't receive a decision in his only career appearance against Los Angeles, a 6-3 win May 6. Niese, however, could put up better numbers this time around against a Dodgers offense which hasn't done much of late.

Los Angeles, loser of 14 of 20, finds itself in the midst of a four-game skid during which its been outscored 21-4 while batting .195. The Dodgers (37-50) went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position Tuesday and dropped to 13 games under .500 for the first time since finishing 71-91 in 2005.

"If we're not able to plate a couple, we're going to have trouble winning," manager Don Mattingly said. "That's kind of been our story. We've been able to get guys out there, but we're having trouble getting that hit - or a number of hits - to put runs on the board."

Scheduled starter Hiroki Kuroda (6-9, 2.90) was 0-6 despite a solid 3.54 ERA over his previous seven starts before holding the Angels to three hits in seven innings during Friday's 5-0 victory.

The right-hander recorded a similar line during his last outing against the Mets, giving up five hits over eight innings of a 2-0 win July 22, 2010. Bay is 2 for 9 with a home run against Kuroda.

The Mets, winners of six of seven on the road, have taken four of five from the Dodgers this season. New York hasn't won three straight at Chavez Ravine in the same season since sweeping a three-game set Aug. 28-30, 1989.