This weekend’s MLS action sees games on Saturday April 26 and Sunday April 27. Let’s get into our MLS predictions across 9 games and 4 parlays.
MLS Picks and Parlays #1
This looks like the low-hanging fruit and if I burned ok, but these two home teams look like expected wins.
FC Cincinnati vs Sporting KC Prediction
1st in the East Cincinnati hosts 13th in the West SKC.
SKC only has 2 wins, albeit they’ve both come in their past 3 games. One was home to rivals St. Louis immediately after Peter Vermes firing and the other last week, a 5-3 shootout vs San Jose. In between they lost 4-2 to Portland. Last week’s road win is their only road win in 12. In their past 22 on the road they have 3 wins, 2 vs San Jose and 1 vs Union Omaha.
Considering they’ve shipped 7 goals in their past 2, that doesn’t bode well vs Cincy who won’t be giving up 5 like San Jose just did.
Cincy is getting healthy and getting defensive pieces back and haven’t lost in 5, with 4 straight wins and shutouts in 2/3.
Evander has been a key addition and has 5 goals in his last 3 games. He’s had at least 1 shot on target in 5 straight and 7/8 and the 1 where he didn’t he only played 30 minutes. In recent games he’s gone 4/3, 4/1, 6/4, and 7/5 in attempts/on target.
It was 3-3 in the Leagues Cup with Cincy winning in PKs in their last meeting in 2023 but that was a stronger SKC team. This SKC team has given up the joint-most goals allowed of 19.
- MLS Picks: Cincinnati to win + Evander 1+ shot on target (-105)
Columbus Crew vs San Jose Earthquakes Prediction
4th in the East Columbus hosts 10th in the West San Jose.
The Crew were 1 of 2 undefeated teams remaining until losing to Miami last week. However, they had 58% possession, outshot Miami 16-7 and 3-2 in shots on target and put up 3.14 xG, but still lost 1-0. They missed tons of chances and easily could have scored 2 or 3.
The Quakes just let in 5 and lost 5-3 at home to a weak SKC team. Their 17 goals allowed is 3rd-worst and their 18.1 xGA is the worst. They’re never a bad bet for a goal with Chico and Martinez and have scored 19 goals which is tops in MLS. And considering Columbus has conceded in 4 straight and 6/7 maybe BTTS is worth considering. But I would expect the Crew to win and/or to score 2+.
I would also expect Diego Rossi to be involved. The Quakes give-up the most shots on target against and Rossi has 5 goals, 27 attempts, 14 on target and at least 1 on target in 5 straight games. Only 5 players have attempted more shots than him on the year.
- MLS Picks: Columbus over 1.5 + Rossi 1+ shot on target (-163)
- Parlay Picks: Cincinnati to win + Evander 1+ shot on target / Columbus over 1.5 + Rossi 1+ shot on target (+215)
MLS Picks and Parlays #2
Charlotte FC vs New England Revolution Prediction
Last year the Revs won 1-0 in Foxborough and Charlotte won 4-0 at home.
The Crown jumped ahead 2-0 over the expansion side of San Diego last week, before San Diego took a red and Charlotte cruised to a 3-0 win wth 3 different scorers. They’ve now won 3 straight.
They remain at home where they’re still a perfect 5-0-0, scoring 13 and conceding only 2. Go back further into last season and they’ve won 9 straight at The Bank scoring multiple goals in 8/9 and outscoring opponents 23-5.
The Revs have been better in recent weeks winning 2 straight and 3/4. I don’t trust them to win here in Charlotte but their games are all close scoring 6 and allowing only 7. They’re 6-2 to Under 2.5 and the average goals in their games is just 1.6, only higher than the 1.2 for St. Louis.
Pep Biel is always worth some sorta player prop with 3G/6A, a shot on target in 4/5 and multiple 3/5.
- MLS Picks: Charlotte double chance
Philadelphia Union vs DC United Prediction
5th Philly hosts 13th DC. Last year it was 2-2 in DC and 4-0 Union in Philly.
Neither are in great form but both are off a win. Philly shut out Atlanta 3-0 at home, which stopped a run that saw them lose 2-1, draw 0-0 and lose 1-0. They have a big piece in the middle of the field to replace though in Daniel Gazdag who’s now in Columbus. 2nd-leading scorer Jovan Lukic also saw red last week so is suspended.
DC also has a big piece to replace and for them at least, I think it’s bigger. That’s the absence of injured striker Christian Benteke. DC has scored 11 goals and 5 have come from Benteke. Surprisingly, after he left last week, they did score twice and went on to beat the Red Bulls 2-1 on the road, both goals from new signing Joao Peglow, his first with DC. That snapped a run of 4 losses and 5 without a win.
I’m not sure they can replicate that this week going up against the Golden Boot leader Tai Baribo (7) and a still strong Philly team that’s only given up 25 shots on target against, the 2nd-fewest behind Vancouver.
But … no Gazdag is still an issue so let’s bet the double chance.
- MLS Picks: Philly double chance
San Diego vs RSL Prediction
San Diego were already losing but did themselves no favors last week vs Charlotte when Andres Reyes took a red card in the 43’ minute. They would go on to lose 3-0.
They’ve now given up 3 goals in back-to-back games. Someone has scored at least 3 in each of their past 4 and the Over 2.5 is 5-0. San Diego has scored 3, both wins in each of their past 2 at Snapdragon Stadium.
RSL lost at home last week to the previously winless Toronto despite outshooting them 23-2. They have 1 win in 5 and only 3 wins this season (home to LA Galaxy, away to Houston, home to Seattle). They don’t generally travel well with only 3 road wins in 16 MLS games. The good news is Diego Luna saw red last week but it was rescinded so he can now play this game.
To help their offense, RSL added SKC’s Agada this week. They also added another ex-SKC forward, free agent Johnny Russell.
These teams already played in Week 3, a 3-1 San Diego win. RSL opened the scoring and San Diego tied it just before half. It stayed 1-1 until 2 late San Diego goals in the 91’ and 96’ minutes.
- MLS Picks: Over 1.5
- Parlay Picks: Charlotte double chance / Philly double chance / San Diego vs RSL over 1.5 (-137)
MLS Picks and Parlays #3
Houston Dynamo vs Austin FC Prediction
I don’t like betting Unders, especially in MLS, but this one jumps off the page. This Texas rivalry saw three 1-0 scoreline last year, twice won by Austin.
This year, Austin games average only 1.7 GPG, which is the 3rd fewest and they’re 7-2 to the Under 2.5.
Houston games are bit higher scoring being 5-4 to the Over and seeing an average of 2.4. They’re neither winning or losing much, with 1 win 5 but only 1 loss in 6. Recently, it’s been a 1-0 win, 1-1 draw and 2-2 draw. They were moments away from losing 2-1 last week before new DP Ondrey Lingr scored after only being on the field for 20 minutes.
Only 1 Austin game has seen 4+ and 3+ for Houston.
The BTTS has been an awful bet in Austin games as it’s 7-2 to the NO, with 7 scores of 1-0 or less.
The Dynamo have only put 23 shots on target which is tied for a league-low alongside New England. Austin’s 30, aren’t much better.
- MLS Picks: Under 3.5
Nashville SC vs Chicago Fire Prediction
Long-known as an Under team, Nashville games have seen an influx in goals this season.
After a 0-0 draw to start the year, their games have seen 2, 2, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, and 3. Losing 3-0 away to Seattle last week was the first time they failed to score since March 1. The defense isn’t helped by the absense of injured captain Walker Zimmerman.
Chicago’s games actually see the 3rd-most goals in MLS at 3.4 only behind San Jose and SKC. They’re 8-1 to BTTS bets only failing in a 0-0 draw with Miami. The BTTS and Over 2.5 is also 7-2.
Both teams are 8-1 to the simple prop of Over 1.5. While Chicago is 7-2 to Over 2.5 and Nashville 6-3.
We haven’t seen tons of goals between them in past years with scores of 3-0, 1-0, 1-0, 3-0 and 1-0. Nor have we seen much Chicago success with Nashville being 4-2-1 all-time.
While the Fire haven’t won any of their past 4 games, all 3 wins have come on the road where they’ll be here. Both teams have big-time players in Mukhtar and Cuypers (2nd in Golden Boot_ so let’s bet on goals.
- MLS Picks: Both to Score
- Parlay Picks: Houston vs Austin under 3.5 / Nashville vs Chicago BTTS (+116)
MLS Picks and Parlays #4
Onto Sunday where we’ll pick 2 of the 4 games for our two-game parlay.
Minnesota United vs Vancouver Whitecaps Prediction
Two top Western teams meet here in 3rd Minnesota hosting 1st Vancouver and you don’t really want to go against either of them. The Caps have only allowed 6 goals all season, and the Loons seven.
The Caps lead the Supporters Shield and haven’t lost in 7 with only 2 overall losses in 16. They maybe had their club’s biggest win even in CCC on Thursday beating Miami at home 2-0. With Leg 2 next week, surely, there has to be some rotation in the squad this weekend.
The Loons haven’t lost in 8, but have 4 draws in that time and are off back-to-back 0-0 draws. Can they be held off the scoresheet 3 games in a row? At home in MLS they had scored in 11 straight and in 23/24 prior to last week vs Dallas.
Last year both won on the road, Vancouver 3-1 and Minnesota 1-0. The Loons have scored vs Vancouver in 10 straight and I’ll bet on that continuing.
- MLS Picks: Minnesota to score
LA Galaxy vs Portland Timbers Prediction
The still winless LA Galaxy will host Portland on Sunday Night Soccer.
LA are 0-3-6 and outscored 16-6. While Portland are up tin 4th at 4-3-2, scoring 16 and allowing 13. That sees their games averaging 3.2 GPG, the 5th-most in MLS.
These are two poor defenses teams, both in bottom 8 of xGA and the Galaxy being 3rd-worst.
LA haven’t won in any comp in 8 with only 1 CCC win in 13 overall. This team isn’t the same with Puig but still have plenty of scorers in Ramirez, Pec, Fagunde and Paintsil having recently returned.
Portland are soaring at 3-3-0 in recent weeks outscoring opponents 14-7 in that time. While they’ve scored 7 in their last 2, they’ve also conceded 5 in a 4-2 win and 3-3 draw. Jonathan Rodrigues came off the bench last week so should see more time this week. Felipe Mora had 2 and the Timbers almost won if not for a 90’ minute PK for LAFC.
They’ve already played once this season and it was 1-1. Last year it was 3-3, 3-2 LA and 4-2 Portland. The BTTS has hit in 8/9 and 12/14 meetings.
- MLS Picks: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: Minnesota to score / LA vs Portland both to score (-111)
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Ryan Métivier is a seasoned editor, writer and communications professional with years of experience in all fields. When it comes to covering sports, he’s written for numerous outlets and organizations including the OHL, CHL, SportsXpress, Sports Betting Dime, Cleveland.com, MassLive, FanSided and others.
While he’ll always cheer for his hometown Toronto teams, when it comes to betting, his only allegiance is his bankroll. Ryan specializes in global soccer, the NFL and the NHL, but if there is a bet to be made, he’ll make it. As the founder of Shred The Spread, Ryan focuses on combining storylines, trends, analytics and good bankroll management to creating simple bets that make sense.
When not making a case for why both teams will score in an MLS soccer match, he can be found focusing his efforts on fitness, attempting to learn Spanish, cooking or planning his travel adventure.
