Happy Jackie Robinson Day for all who celebrate!
Unfortunately, due to real-life commitments, we weren’t able to get last week’s rankings done in a timely manner.
Given the volatility of MLS in general, some notable recent performances, and a tightening of our focus to more of a “what have you done for me lately” look since the season is 7 or 8 games in, we’ve had some aggressive movement.
Top Shelf
1. Inter Miami
We are sticking by our pick here for now as there are a number of results that seem to indicate they really are this good, but with Vancouver and three other teams having more points, maybe there is a change next week. Last weekend, Miami went to Chicago and got a 0-0 tie.
2. Columbus Crew
The Crew went to St. Louis and got a 2-1 road win. Very solid result.
3. Vancouver Whitecaps
One of the teams I had wrong in the preseason, the Whitecaps have the most points in the league. I still want to review them for opponents and venue, but a 5-1 win over Austin is a pretty salty result.
Good
4. Charlotte FC
A 1-0 win at Montreal is very good, but the Canadian side is not.
5. FC Cincinnati
Similar to Charlotte, Cincy got a win at D.C., 1-0.
6. Minnesota United
A 0-0 tie at Toronto is not bad, but it doesn’t keep up with the other teams that won on the road above them.
7. San Diego FC
A competitive 3-2 loss to Colorado on the road is nothing to put your head down about.
8. Philadelphia Union
A 1-0 loss at NYC is problematic as the home side in that game is not good, but it is hard to win on the road in MLS, even against mediocre sides.
9. Los Angeles FC
A 2-1 win over San Jose is good for a team that had been competing internationally.
10. Orlando City SC
A 0-0 home tie to the Red Bulls may not seem great at first, but they suffered a 56′ red card and found a way to stay alive. Now they’ve locked up Pareja.
11. Colorado Rapids
Big home win over San Diego, 3-2, to keep them moving along in the West.
12. Portland Timbers
Another team I was off about this Spring, the Timbers got a 4-2 win at Sporting Kansas City, ending the one-game winning streak SCK had put together after firing Peter Vermes.
13. Austin FC
Like Portland, I didn’t have Austin in the right place. Then again, getting destroyed by Vancouver 5-1 is not exactly a great endorsement.
14. Nashville SC
They beat RSL 2-1 at home.
15. FC Dallas
A 1-0 home loss to a terrible Seattle team is just not good. This team is very up and down, and they need an upgrade in a position or two, fast, otherwise the instability is going to kill any momentum they try to build.
16. New York Red Bulls
Having almost an entire half with a man advantage is usually a situation where you need to find a winner. The Red Bulls weren’t able to do that, settling for a 0-0 draw with Orlando.
17. New York City FC
For a team that sits 10th, a 1-0 home win over Philadelphia is helpful.
18. Chicago Fire
A 0-0 home tie to Miami is nothing to be ashamed about.
19. San Jose Earthquakes
It was a road loss, but losing 2-1 to LAFC might feel like a lost opportunity.
20. New England Revolution
Their second win of the season comes on the road against Atlanta, 1-0.
21. Atlanta United
A 1-0 loss to New England at home is a real problem.
22. Seattle Sounders
Finding a way to scratch out a 1-0 win on the road is a breath of fresh air for a team that has really struggled this season, but they have often had FCD’s number.
23. Real Salt Lake
A disappointing loss for RSL as they fall, 2-1, at Nashville.
24. Houston Dynamo
The Dynamo weren’t able to beat the Galaxy despite taking an early lead and getting a man advantage in the 28th.
25. St. Louis City SC
A 2-1 home loss to the quality Crew is kind of to be expected considering the season St. Louis is having.
Poor
26. Los Angeles Galaxy
The Galaxy are terrible. Truly terrible. So much so that they should celebrate finding a way to tie Houston despite going down 1-0 early at home and suffering a 28th-minute red card.
27. Toronto FC
Credit for not losing at home to a good team like Minnesota, but 0-0 won’t help them get out of the dregs of the league.
28. CF Montreal
Another team that has just been terrible, Montreal lost at home, 1-0 to Charlotte.
29. Sporting Kansas City
And just like that, their “We Fired Our Coach” win is wasted as they lose, 4-2, to the Timbers at home.
30. D.C. United
A 1-0 home loss to Cincinnati is just another body blow to this once-revered organization.