Ranking this week’s MLS games from best to worst.
- Orlando City (9-12-7) at Atlanta United (11-8-6), 3:55 p.m. Saturday. This shouldn't be the best game – the two teams are trending in opposite directions – but it is the chance to see potentially the largest crowd in MLS history. There should be more than 70,000 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The attendance record of 69,255 was set April 13, 1996 in a game between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the N.Y./N.J. MetroStars.
- Seattle (11-7-10) at Dallas (9-8-10), 8 p.m. Saturday. Dallas has too much talent to be stuck in sixth in the Western Conference. Seattle may have to go the rest of the season without enigmatic striker Jordan Morris, who appeared to suffer a hamstring injury in last week's draw with L.A. Galaxy. The Sounders are unbeaten in 12, but I still have a hard time believing they are a legitimate contender.
- Houston (10-9-8) at San Jose (10-12-6), 10:30 p.m. Saturday. San Jose trails Houston by just two important points in the playoff chase. The Dynamo are in fifth in the West while San Jose is in seventh.
- New England (10-12-5) at Atlanta United (11-8-6), 7 p.m. Wednesday. A win by the Five Stripes in this one and the race in the East to decide the six teams that will make the playoffs will be over. Then, it will just be a matter of deciding the final four seeds.
- Portland (12-9-8) at Real Salt Lake (10-14-5), 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Portland is atop the weird West while Real Salt Lake is just two points out of a playoff spot. It's odd considering the poor runs both teams had earlier this season when the Timbers were winless in six and Real Salt Lake opened with five consecutive draws or losses.
- Minnesota United (7-14-5) at Montreal (10-11-6), 7:30 p.m. Saturday. This is important only because the Impact must win to stay alive in the playoff chase. If they can't win this one they probably don't deserve to be in the playoffs.
- Minnesota (7-14-5) at Vancouver (12-9-5), 10 p.m. Wednesday. The same thing applies here, but for seeding in the West. The Whitecaps are in third, but just five points ahead of sixth-place San Jose and six ahead of seventh-place Real Salt Lake.
- Columbus (13-12-4) at Vancouver (12-9-5), 7 p.m. Saturday. The Crew seem likely to make the playoffs. Stealing a point on the road in this one would be huge. Should be a fun game to watch.
- New England (10-12-5) at Sporting KC (10-6-11), 8:30 p.m. Saturday. If the Revs were to steal a point at Atlanta United on Wednesday, grabbing another here would be good. Of course, one point at a time doesn't help their playoff hopes.
- Philadelphia (8-12-8) at New York Red Bulls (12-10-5), 1 p.m. Sunday. The Red Bulls lead Atlanta United by two points.
- C. United (8-16-4) at Chicago (13-9-6), 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
- NYCFC (15-8-5) at Colorado (7-16-4), 9 p.m. Saturday.
- Toronto (17-3-8) at L.A. Galaxy (7-14-6), 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
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