Ranking this week’s MLS games from best to worst.
- Toronto (12-3-8) at Chicago (12-6-5), 8 p.m. Saturday. The two best teams in MLS face off. If Chicago wins, it opens the door for a three-team race for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
2. New York Red Bulls (12-9-2) at Portland (9-9-7), 10 p.m., Friday. The Timbers, winners of just two of past 10, are in fifth in the West, but just three points ahead of seventh-place Vancouver. The Red Bulls have won five of six and Bradley Wright-Phillips is tearing apart defenses.
3. Dallas (9-5-8) at Sporting KC (9-5-10), 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Dallas is winless in three and Sporting KC has just one win its past six. If either hopes to win the west, three points would be a good get here.
4. Columbus (11-12-2) at Orlando City (8-10-6), 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The game that should determine if Orlando City will be a part of the playoff race. A loss and it is likely the Lions are done. What means for the roster and coach Jason Kreis remains to be seen.
5. Houston (10-7-7) at Vancouver (9-9-4), 10 p.m. Saturday. The Dynamo have figured out how to get points from the road, which is why they are atop the West. This is a huge game for both teams. The Whitecaps need three points to stay in the playoff race. Do they have the speed to keep up with Houston?
6. Chicago (12-6-5) at Montreal (8-8-6), 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. If Montreal wins both of its home games, it will suddenly be in sixth in the East and Atlanta United, which is off again this week, will drop to seventh. This is a tough first test.
7. Philadelphia (8-11-5) at San Jose (9-10-5), 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Philadelphia loses this one and its playoff hopes are shot.
8. New England (8-10-5) at NYCFC (13-7-4), 6 p.m. Sunday.
9. Minnesota United (6-13-4) at Seattle (10-7-7), 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Seattle should stretch its unbeaten streak to nine consecutive games.
10. Real Salt Lake (8-12-5) at Montreal (8-8-6), 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
11. D.C. United (5-15-4) at Colorado (6-12-4), 9 p.m. Saturday. Colorado will break in a new coach, while D.C. United should break in several new players.
