With just three weeks remaining in the 2019 MLS regular season, the chase for the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs is heating up in the Western Conference. Teams 2-8 in the standings all moved spots after an eventful weekend, so it seems appropriate to revisit what the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs would look like if the season ended today.
LAFC has clinched the top spot in the West and would have a first-round bye. So we will ignore their schedule for the remainder of the season. Seattle Sounders FC rose from third to second with a win on Sunday, but would still host the Portland Timbers in the first round after a rare home loss over the weekend for the Timbers. With its win on Sunday, Minnesota United FC climbed to third and would host the No. 6 San Jose Earthquakes. Real Salt Lake kept home-field advantage in the first round in fourth place and would host the fifth-seeded LA Galaxy, who vaulted above the playoff line with a 7-2 home win over Sporting Kansas City.
Are you all caught up now? Don’t get too comfortable … the last three weeks are sure to see plenty of musical chairs in the standings. Where do you think RSL will land?
1. LAFC – 19-4-6, 63 points *clinched first in the West
2. Seattle Sounders FC – 14-9-7, 49 points; 2 home, 2 away
Road record of home opponents – 8-19-3, 27 pts., 0.90 ppm
Home record of road opponents – 16-7-7, 55 pts., 1.83 ppm
Sept. 18 vs. Dallas (3-10-2, 11 pts., 0.73 ppm)
Sept. 22 at DC (6-4-5, 23 pts., 1.53 ppm)
Sept. 29 at San Jose (10-3-2, 32 pts., 2.13 ppm)
Oct. 6 vs. Minnesota (5-9-1, 16 pts., 1.07 ppm)
3. Minnesota United FC – 14-10-6, 48 points; 2 home, 2 away
Road record of home opponents – 11-11-9, 42 pts., 1.35 ppm
Home record of road opponents – 17-6-5, 56 pts., 2.00 ppm
Sept. 22 at Portland (7-4-2, 23 pts., 1.77 ppm)
Sept. 25 vs. Kansas City (3-8-4, 13 pts., 0.86 ppm)
Sept. 29 vs. LAFC (8-3-5, 29 pts., 1.81 ppm)
Oct. 6 at Seattle (10-2-3, 33 pts., 2.20 ppm)
4. Real Salt Lake – 14-12-4, 46 points; 2 home, 2 away
Road record of home opponents – 6-22-2, 20 pts., 0.67 ppm
Home record of road opponents – 12-11-7, 43 pts., 1.43 ppm
Sept. 21 at New England (7-5-3, 24 pts., 1.60 ppm)
Sept. 25 vs. LA Galaxy (4-9-2, 14 pts., 0.93 ppm)
Sept. 29 vs. Houston (2-13-0, 6 pts., 0.40 ppm)
Oct. 6 at Vancouver (5-6-4, 19 pts., 1.27 ppm)
5. LA Galaxy – 14-13-3, 45 points; 2 home, 2 away
Road record of home opponents – 6-19-7, 25 pts., 0.78 ppm
Home record of road opponents – 19-6-5, 62 pts., 2.07 ppm
Sept. 21 vs. Montreal (4-10-2, 14 pts., 0.88 ppm)
Sept. 25 at RSL (11-3-1, 34 pts., 2.27 ppm)
Sept. 29 vs. Vancouver (2-9-5, 11 pts., 0.69 ppm)
Oct. 6 at Houston (8-3-4, 28 pts., 1.87 ppm)
6. San Jose Earthquakes – 13-12-5, 44 points; 2 home, 2 away
Road record of home opponents – 9-13-7, 34 pts., 1.17 ppm
Home record of road opponents – 17-6-5, 56 pts., 2.00 ppm
Sept. 21 at Atlanta (10-2-3, 33 pts., 2.20 ppm)
Sept. 25 vs. Philadelphia (5-6-3, 18 pts., 1.29 ppm)
Sept. 29 vs. Seattle (4-7-4, 16 pts., 1.07 ppm)
Oct. 6 at Portland (7-4-2, 23 pts., 1.77 ppm)
7. Portland Timbers – 13-12-4, 43 points; 4 home, 1 away
Road record of home opponents – 15-31-14, 59 pts., 0.98 ppm
Home record of road opponents – 7-5-3, 24 pts. 1.60 ppm
Sept. 18 vs. New York Red Bulls (4-8-3, 15 pts., 1.00 ppm)
Sept. 22 vs. Minnesota (5-9-1, 16 pts., 1.07 ppm)
Sept. 25 vs. New England (3-5-7, 16 pts., 1.07 ppm)
Sept. 29 at Kansas City (7-5-3, 24 pts., 1.60 ppm)
Oct. 6 vs. San Jose (3-9-3, 12 pts., 0.80 ppm)
8. FC Dallas – 12-11-7, 43 points; 2 home, 2 away
Road record of home opponents – 9-12-8, 35 pts., 1.21 ppm
Home record of road opponents – 18-8-5, 59 pts., 1.90 ppm
Sept. 18 at Seattle (10-2-3, 33 pts., 2.20 ppm)
Sept. 22 vs. NYCFC (6-4-4, 22 pts., 1.57 ppm)
Sept. 29 at Colorado (8-6-2, 26 pts., 1.63 ppm)
Oct. 6 vs. Kansas City (3-8-4, 13 pts., 0.87 ppm)
9. Sporting Kansas City – 10-13-7, 37 points; 2 home, 3 away
Road record of home opponents – 8-17-6, 30 pts., 0.97 ppm
Home record of road opponents – 18-2-10, 64 pts., 2.13 ppm
Sept. 21 vs. Colorado (2-9-4, 10 pts., 0.67 ppm)
Sept. 25 at Minnesota (9-1-5, 32 pts., 2.13 ppm)
Sept. 29 vs. Portland (6-8-2, 20 pts., 1.25 ppm)
Oct. 6 at Dallas (9-1-5, 32 pts., 2.13 ppm)
10. Colorado Rapids – 10-15-6, 36 points; 1 home, 2 away
Road record of home opponents – 3-10-2, 11 pts., 0.73 ppm
Home record of road opponents – 18-6-5, 59 pts., 2.03 ppm
Sept. 21 at Kansas City (7-5-3, 24 pts., 1.60 ppm)
Sept. 29 vs. Dallas (3-10-2, 11 pts., 0.73 ppm)
Oct. 6 at LAFC (11-1-2, 35 pts., 2.50 ppm)
11. Houston Dynamo – 10-16-4, 34 points; 2 home, 2 away
Road record of home opponents – 7-15-8, 29 pts., 0.97 ppm
Home record of road opponents – 22-4-3, 69 pts., 2.38 ppm
Sept. 21 vs. Orlando (3-6-6, 15 pts., 1.00 ppm)
Sept. 25 at LAFC (11-1-2, 35 pts., 2.50 ppm)
Sept. 29 at RSL (11-3-1, 34 pts., 2.27 ppm)
Oct. 6 vs. LA Galaxy (4-9-2, 14 pts., 0.93 ppm)
