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It's a busy slate in MLS for the last Wednesday night of the 2020 regular season as teams continue to jostle for playoff positioning and the final playoff spots ahead of Decision Day presented by AT&T.
Here's a preview of what games are on tap, and what to expect from all of the midweek action.
Orlando City SC vs. Columbus Crew SC
7:30 pm ET | ESPN+, TSN3 in Canada (local TV)
It's a matchup between Eastern Conference heavyweights that have already clinched a spot in the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs, but there are still implications as it pertains to seeding.
Coming into the match, Columbus (3rd place in East) and Orlando (4th place in East) each sit at 38 points and a 1.81 points per game average (PPG), meaning each side has a chance to gain a stranglehold on the No. 3 seed in the East table. In addition, the Columbus Crew need a win to keep up the chase for the Supporters' Shield which is awarded to the team with the best regular season record.
Minnesota United vs. Chicago Fire FC
8 pm ET | ESPN+, MLS Live on DAZN in Canada (local TV)
The Loons are headed to the playoffs, currently occupying the No. 4 seed in the West with 1.58 PPG, and they'll need to take three points in this one to potentially catch up to Seattle or Sporting Kansas City in front of them. To do that they'll need to top a Chicago side that is fighting for playoff survival.
The Fire are currently clinging to one of the East's final postseason spots at 1.05 PPG with Atlanta United and Inter Miami CF nipping at their heels. It's do-or-die time for Raphael Wicky's group, so expect Chicago to come out plenty aggressive.
Nashville SC vs. FC Dallas
8:30 pm ET | ESPN+, TSN4 in Canada (local TV)
Nashville SC (7th in East) deserve a ton of credit for making the playoffs in their expansion season, but do they have enough firepower in the attack to actually make a run once they get there? That's to be determined, but Gary Smith's group could give an early indication that they're ready for the challenge if they can manage to find the net multiple times against a stingy FC Dallas side.
FC Dallas (No. 6 in the West) are right there for a top four seed in their conference if they can get a victory, as they're just behind Minnesota and tied with LAFC at 1.55 PPG. That all makes for what should be a competitive matchup between cross-conference opponents.
Portland Timbers vs. Colorado Rapids
10 pm ET | ESPN+, TSN3 in Canada (local TV)
Colorado are riding high at the moment coming off a surprisingly comprehensive 3-1 win over Seattle, and they now face another Cascadia foe in the red-hot Timbers, who are the West's No. 1 seed coming off their 1-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Rapids are currently in the No. 7 spot in the West, but they have yet to officially clinch their playoff spot. A win or draw would do the trick based on points per game.
The Timbers are intent on maintaining their top seed in the West, and they'll need to showcase their impressive depth after losing star forward Jaroslaw Niezgoda to an ACL tear. They've already had to overcome the devastating loss of early-season MVP candidate Sebastian Blanco and they've proven they can draw on a lot of experience on their roster.
LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders
11 pm ET | UniMas, TUDN, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada (local TV)
The LA Galaxy kept themselves alive with their 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake, and it's all on the line as they look to salvage a miracle playoff berth following the departure of Guillermo Barros Schelotto. Coaching changes can sometimes provide a short-term shot in the arm, and the Galaxy will hope that's the case under interim boss Dom Kinnear because they need to win out and hope for results to go their way.
They draw a Seattle squad that will be looking to bounce back after the disappointing defeat in Colorado. This is typically the time of year the Sounders turn it up, so they'll hope this match against the Galaxy can help get them back on track and perhaps regain the No. 1 spot in the West which they lost to the rival Timbers last weekend.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. LAFC
11 pm ET | ESPN+ (local TV)
San Jose continue their quest for a playoff berth that many would have thought unthinkable earlier this season as they take on LAFC in a late addition to the midweek slate.
It's been a tumultuous season for the Quakes, but they're currently in the 8th and final postseason spot in the Western Conference at 1.29 PPG and a win can clinch a postseason berth outright. A draw could also do the trick provided the Galaxy don't win their match against Seattle.
But LAFC will be a tough opponent: They are 3W-1L-1D in their last five and slowly but surely they are getting healthier heading into the playoffs. While they're looking more like their old selves than they have for much of 2020, a win would certainly help the reigning Supporters' Shield holders to achieve some self-belief that they are indeed ready to start firing on all cylinders in the postseason. Perhaps this will be the match we get to see Carlos Vela back in the starting XI, after he's come off the bench in his first two games back from his lengthy absence due to an MCL injury.
