Ranking this week’s MLS games from best to worst.
Atlanta United (4-1-1) at L.A. Galaxy (3-2-1), 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco, Zlatan, Barco.
Toronto (1-3-0) at Houston (1-2-2), 3 p.m. Saturday. Toronto has already announced it won't use its A-team in this game because of Champions League responsibilities. It has just four points from three games. Toronto is good enough to make up ground quickly, but there are three teams in the East that are already fighting for home spots in the playoffs. It's going to be tough. Houston hasn't won since its season-opening game against Atlanta United. Now's time to stamp itself as a contender.
New England (3-2-1) at Columbus (3-3-1), 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Another contender or pretender game. Columbus has lost three consecutive after starting the season unbeaten in four. New England has surprised most with three wins out of six, but it seems unlikely to continue here.
Vancouver (3-3-1) at Sporting KC (4-1-2), 9 p.m. Friday. Vancouver knows just one way to play – long balls -- as such it has just one win its past five and this won't be easy because Sporting KC's defenders are good in the air. Sporting KC is figuring out myriad ways to play and is the class of the West so far.
NYCFC (5-0-2) at Portland (1-3-2), 6 p.m. Sunday. Years past, this would be the game of the week, but Portland just earned its first win in its first home game. NYCFC cares not if it's on the road or at home this season. It is fun to watch.
San Jose (1-2-2) at Orlando City (3-2-1), 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Orlando City has won three consecutive games, but hasn't looked as convincing as Sporting KC, Atlanta United or NYCFC. A dominating win here would change that perception.
LAFC (3-2-0) at Montreal (2-4-0), 1 p.m. Saturday. LAFC bounced back from two consecutive losses with a win at Vancouver. Montreal is better than its record. This should be a wide-open game.
Chicago (1-3-1) at New York Red Bulls (3-2-0), 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Chicago's Dax McCarty said his team is "below average" after last week's punchless loss to L.A. It's not going to get any easier today.
Philadelphia (1-2-2) at Dallas (2-0-3), 8 p.m. Saturday. Their record doesn't show it, but I really like Dallas and think it can be a sleeper in the West. As such, it must win the games it's supposed to win. This is one of those games.
Colorado (2-12) at Real Salt Lake (2-3-1), 9 p.m. Saturday. It's a rivalry game. That's about the only thing that makes this interesting.
Minnesota United (2-4-0) at Seattle (0-3-1), 4 p.m. Sunday. Darwin Quintero should have a field day against what must be the slowest centerback pairing in the history of soccer, but we will see.
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