Ranking this week’s games in MLS:
Games of the week
Sporting KC at Dallas, 8 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live: Dallas remains unbeaten but isn't playing like a juggernaut. Sporting KC has steadily moved up to second in the Western Conference despite scoring just six goals in six games.
Orlando City at NYCFC, 1:30 p.m. Sunday, FS1: Orlando has rolled with a 4-0-0 record at home. But this isn't at home. NYCFC is starting to show signs of life after having a dull start.
Games to DVR to watch again
Chicago at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. Friday, TSN4: There are so many games that could be games of the week. This is one. Chicago is rolling since acquiring Bastian Schweinsteiger, a move panned by many but seems to be working. Toronto has just seven points from six games and has scored just seven goals. It seems they are due.
San Jose at Houston, 4 p.m. Saturday, UniMas: Two of the surprise teams in the West will meet. Houston is still scoring a lot of goals (13), but it's allowing a lot of goals (11). San Jose has yet to win away from home.
Vancouver at Portland, 4 p.m. Saturday, CTV: At one time this would be a game of the week. This season it's almost a yawner. Seattle is struggling to score and Vancouver is just kind of…dull.
Columbus at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live: Another candidate for game of the week. I still like Columbus because of its creativity in midfield. Red Bulls had one point from its previous four games before winning last weekend.
Games to go to the watering hole to watch
Atlanta United at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, FSSE, MLS Live, CW69: Atlanta United has a run of bad luck (officiating?!?) in its past two games, while Real Salt Lake has won two consecutive. Interestingly, Atlanta United President Darren Eales will serve as guest TV analyst (more on that later).
Games to set up score alerts on your phone so you don’t have to pay close attention
D.C. United (2-3-1) at New England (2-3-1), 7:30 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live: The second of two games this week for the Revs. D.C. United has yet to win on the road this season (0-2-0).
Seattle (1-2-3) at L.A. Galaxy (2-4-0), 4 p.m. Sunday, ESPN: Add their points together and they still don't reach Portland's total. Yikes. It's too early to call this a must win for either team, but after their slow starts it's only natural to assume that both teams will playing hard to get the three points.
Games that only those who play fantasy will care about
San Jose (2-2-2) at New England (2-3-1), 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, MLS Live: The Earthquakes are 0-2-0 on the road and New England is 2-0-0 at home. Throw in the difficulty of travelling from West to East aspect, and naturally San Jose will win. This will be the first of two games for the Revs this week.
Montreal (1-2-3) at Philadelphia (0-4-2), 1 p.m. Saturday, TVAS: The two teams in the Eastern Conference cellar will meet. Here's how weird the East is: if Montreal wins, depending upon other results, it can move from 10th to sixth.
Colorado (1-3-1) at Minnesota United (1-4-2), 6 p.m. Sunday, MLS Live: Atlanta's Sam Cronin gets a chance to play against a team that shockingly traded him to the Loons just a few weeks ago. Minnesota United has quietly been earning points in its past few games after its disastrous start.
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