BIGGEST MOVERS: Seattle +5 spots | Toronto & Orlando City -3 spots
1
LAST WEEK: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
Three weeks ago they went to Houston and got a lesson on Texas heat. This past weekend they went to Dallas and gave one. All the pieces they added seem to fit just fine, and none of them melted.
Latest result: Won at Dallas, 2-1
Last five results: W-L-W-W-W
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. NYCFC (ESPN)
2
LAST WEEK: 4
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14
Sitting pretty on points per game, but their schedule is a bear for the rest of the way: 8 of their 12 are on the road, and most are against the West. The hard part starts now for Sporting.
Latest result: Won vs. Vancouver, 4-3
Last five results: W-L-D-W-W
Next MLS match: Wednesday vs. San Jose; Saturday at Columubus
3
LAST WEEK: 2
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
That late collapse was memorable for all the wrong reasons. Worth noting, however, that they have the kindest remaining schedule of any Western contender.
Latest result: Lost at Sporting KC, 4-3
Last five results: D-W-W-W-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Dallas
4
LAST WEEK: 5
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 17
Are RBNY the Shield favorites? Six of their final 11 are home games, and two of their five road dates are at Chicago. Plus quite honestly, nobody's been playing better soccer for the past six weeks.
Latest result: Won vs. Toronto, 3-0
Last five results: W-W-D-W-W
Next MLS match: August 26 at Chicago
5
LAST WEEK: 3
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
They've been outshot 43-7 in their last 180 minutes. Because D.C. are D.C., they've still managed to split the point in those games. But we're not going out on a limb by saying that they have to play better to maintain their perch atop the East.
Latest result: Lost at NYCFC, 3-1
Last five results: L-W-W-W-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. San Jose
6
LAST WEEK: 6
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
The difference in experience was evident in the second half, and the mix-and-match backline didn't quite work. FCD look a cut below the rest of the West's best, but they can convince us otherwise this weekend in Vancouver.
Latest result: Lost vs. LA, 2-1
Last five results: W-W-W-L-L
Next MLS match: Saturday at Vancouver
7
LAST WEEK: 9
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 16
They bunkered, they won, and it's worth remembering that three points on the road are always beautiful.
Latest result: Won at Real Salt Lake, 1-0
Last five results: D-L-D-W-W
Next MLS match: Friday vs. Houston (UniMás)
8
LAST WEEK: 8
HIGH: 4 | LOW: 15
Wednesday's game is actually kind of huge, since Columbus – given their road form – can't afford to cough up any points at home.
Latest result: OFF
Last five results: W-W-D-L-W
Next MLS match: Wednesday vs. NYCFC; Saturday vs. Sporting KC
9
LAST WEEK: 14
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14
That Obafemi Martins guy is pretty decent, eh? We suspect that if he stays healthy, the summer swoon will stay in the past.
Latest result: Won vs. Orlando City, 4-0
Last five results: L-L-L-L-W
Next MLS match: Saturday at Real Salt Lake
10
LAST WEEK: 7
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 16
Good defense starts up top. This is what RBNY coach Jesse Marsch had to say about TFC's forwards: "We knew that [Giovinco] and Jozy, their work rate isn't the best so we knew that we could find the game a little bit."
Latest result: Lost at New York, 3-0
Last five results: D-L-W-L-W
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Orlando City
11
LAST WEEK: 10
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 20
With Didier Drogba on board and games in hand, Montreal are well positioned to charge up the Eastern Conference table.
Latest result: None
Last five results: L-W-W-D-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Philadelphia
12
LAST WEEK: 13
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 20
Starting to look slightly more like the Revs of last year, but their lack of defensive depth is still glaring.
Latest result: Won vs. Houston, 2-0
Last five results: L-W-D-W-W
Next MLS match: August 29 at Philadelphia
13
LAST WEEK: 11
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 18
If they're going to put pressure on for the final playoff spot, they'll have to start winning this week. Their next four games are all against conference foes, and nine (or more) points would go a long way toward climbing the ladder.
Latest result: Lost at New England, 2-0
Last five results: L-W-D-W-L
Next MLS match: Friday at Portland (UniMás)
14
LAST WEEK: 16
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 20
They are either glorious, or a glorious disaster. No in-between. And no more Kwadwo Poku on the bench, ok?
Latest result: Won vs. D.C. United, 3-1
Last five results: L-W-L-L-W
Next MLS match: Wednesday at Columbus; Sunday at LA (ESPN)
15
LAST WEEK: 12
HIGH: 9 | LOW: 17
The wall has been well and truly hit, with only one win in their last eight and multiple goals conceded in six of their last seven.
Latest result: Lost at Seattle, 4-0
Last five results: L-W-L-D-L
Next MLS match: Saturday at Toronto
16
LAST WEEK: 15
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 17
Saturday's loss felt very much like the end of their seven-year postseason streak.
Latest result: Lost vs. Portland, 1-0
Last five results: W-W-L-L-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Seattle
17
LAST WEEK: 17
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 18
Starting to build a nice 25-and-under core (Godoy, Bingham, Alashe, Cato, Pelosi, Thompson), but many more pieces are needed to compete toe-to-toe with the league's best.
Latest result: Won vs. Colorado, 1-0
Last five results: L-L-D-L-W
Next MLS match: Wednesday at Sporting KC; Saturday at D.C. United
18
LAST WEEK: 18
HIGH: 15 | LOW: 20
They've got some pieces, but it's safe to say Mo Edu's presence at the back was missed late against the Fire.
Latest result: Drew vs. Chicago, 3-3
Last five results: L-L-L-D-D
Next MLS match: Saturday at Montreal
19
LAST WEEK: 19
HIGH: 11 | LOW: 20
The Power Rankings Politburo enjoyed watching Mikey Stephens spraying passes around central midfield this past weekend. More of that, please.
Latest result: Drew at Philadelphia, 3-3
Last five results: L-D-W-L-D
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Colorado
20
LAST WEEK: 20
HIGH: 15 | LOW: 20
That three-game winning streak now seems like a distant memory. Here's a question: Who is the best player on this team?
Latest result: Lost at San Jose, 1-0
Last five results: W-W-L-L-L
Next MLS match: Saturday at Chicago
Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff and remarks are written by Senior Editor Matt Doyle (@MLSAnalyst).
