Ranking this week’s MLS games from best to worst.
New York Red Bulls vs. NYCFC, 7 p.m. Wednesday. An important game for so many reasons. Both teams need to win to keep pace with Atlanta United in the race for the Supporters' Shield. Both teams need a win to try to improve the probability of earning one of the top two seeds in the East. The Red Bulls are playing well, while NYCFC isn't.
Atlanta United at Orlando City, 8 p.m. Friday. Orlando City's supporter's section, which has a vocabulary similar to Veljko Paunovic's, might spontaneously combust with rage if Josef Martinez sets the MLS single-season scoring record in this game.
D.C. United at New York Red Bulls, 7 p.m. Sunday. Atlanta United and Red Bulls will finally be on equal footing in terms of games played after this one. D.C. United is rolling with Wayne Rooney-Luciano Acosta partnership, but I think it's going to run out of gas just before it can qualify for the playoffs.
Seattle at Portland, 9:30 p.m. Sunday. I want to get excited about this game. I really do. But Portland has lost three consecutive games by a combined score of 9-2. Seattle has won six consecutive, which is impressive, but there's something about the squad that makes not believe they are as good as others may believe.
Columbus at Chicago, 7 p.m. Thursday. It's come down to this for Chicago, losers of eight consecutive and led by a coach who drops F Bombs with regularity, it seems. It must win this game or its slim playoff hopes are done.
Dallas at Houston, 9 p.m. Thursday. Well, Houston hasn't won since July 7 and has just two wins since May 30. Dallas isn't playing well either, but should get the three points to stay ahead of Sporting KC and keep pace with the Eastern leaders in the race for the Supporters' Shield.
LAFC at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m. Friday. LAFC posted two consecutive wins to stop its spiral, but the Galaxy are back to midseason form with one win in their past six.
Minnesota United at Sporting KC, 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Sporting KC trails Dallas by three points, is playing well on offense and defense and is fun to watch. Minnesota is …. not Looking California, as Soundgarden once sang.
New England at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Saturday. The Revs must win this game to contend for a playoff spot in the East. They haven't won since June 30. If Philadelphia gets three points in this one, it will make the playoffs. That's a prediction, not a fact.
Montreal at Toronto, 8 p.m. Saturday. Yet another must-win game. Toronto is nine points behind sixth in the East and has too many teams to leapfrog to make the playoffs. Montreal is that sixth-place team.
Real Salt Lake at Colorado, 9 p.m. Saturday. Real Salt Lake is in fourth in the West, but is just three points ahead of seventh-place Seattle. Three points are necessary, but not a given considering how erratic the team is this season.
Vancouver at San Jose, 10 p.m. Saturday. The Whitecaps are one of eight teams in the West fighting for six playoff spots. The problem with the Whitecaps is similar to the one with Real Salt Lake: you never know which team is going to show up.
