Leagues Cup takes a break, as the MLS calendar just keeps starting and stopping. The Leagues Cup quarterfinals will resume the final week of August. So this weekend, we get MLS Matchday 20 and 15 games on August 15-16, 2026. Let’s cover 6 in the best bets and MLS predictions.
MLS Picks and Parlays #1
Orlando City vs FC Cincinnati Prediction
If this game doesn’t have fireworks I’m not sure which one will. Cincy is 6th in the East and Orlando 10th, but only 6 points separates them.
They’ve already played this season in May and Cincy won 6-2 at home. Both Mboma Dem and Evander scored twice for Cincy, while Ojeda also had a brace for Orlando, but will miss out injured here.
Evander has a goal or assist in 11 straight games across all comps for a total of 11G/10A, while Mboma Dem and Bucha both scored twice in Leagues Cup. And then Orlando has since added Griezmann, while Pasalic recently came back from injury in Leagues Cup.
Speaking of Leagues Cup, both fell short of qualifying in the top 4, going 2-0-1.
Cincy was lookiing good through 2 rounds winning 3-1 and 2-0 over Pachuca and Pumas and were up 1-0 to Atlas before coming unravelled late and losing 2-1. Cincy has scored in 20 straight overall games, but have conceded in 10/11 and 17/19. The BTTS & Over 2.5 is 10-1 and even BTTS & Over 3.5 is 8-3.
Not only are there plenty of offensive weapons on both teams, but they’re both usually poor defensively. Orlando’s 47 GA is a league-worst, and Cincy’s 44 are third-worst.
- MLS picks: BTTS & Over 2.5 (-225), add Evander sot or g/a (-143), also add Griezmann sot (+100)
MLS Picks and Parlays #2
Houston Dynamo vs LA Galaxy Prediction
Houston probably wasn’t a team many had at the top of the West in their pre-season predictions, but only Nashville and Miami in all of MLS have posted more wins so far. The Dynamo are 10-2-6 and at home 6-1-2.
There was just 1 game in actual “MLS” play last week that was not in the Leagues Cup and it saw Houston going to New England and winning 2-0 with goals from Guilherme and Resch. Guilherme leads the team with 11 goals, has scored in 3 straight games, and has at least 1+ SOT in 7 straight games where he’s totalled 25 shots/13 on target.
As a team, Houston, has won 3 straight (3-0, 2-0, 2-0), are undefeated in regulation in 7 and have just 1 loss in 11. In their last 6 leagues games, they’ve conceded just 2 goals.
Let’s switch over to LA and the news is interesting but not as good. The bodies keep falling, or leaving. They sent one of their key connecting midfield players in Cerillo to Club America. Then signed veteran and ex-Barca midfielder Sergi Roberto to play that role and took Chucky Lozano off the hands of San Diego. Add in the new Japanese striker they signed in Kyoto Furuhashi and there are all kinds of new pieces for head coach Greg Vanney to try and use to plug this sinking ship.
LA is 12th in the West, are winless in 3 (0-3-2) and have scored just 3 goals in 5 games.
While the BTTS has hit in 5 straight between the teams, the scores are relatively close at 2-1, 2-1, 1-1, 1-1, and 1-1 back in May.
- MLS picks: Houston moneyline
Toronto FC vs New England Revolution Prediction
Both teams should be relatively fresh having not taken part in Leagues Cup. New England, though was involved in the 1 MLS game that was played last week, which I just mentioned against Houston, a 2-0 home loss. They’re now just 1-2-1 in their last 4. As good as New England has been at home, usually, they’re only 1-2-4 on the road and have been outscored 13-7.
Toronto had a long run of home games and then a long run of road games (6) and nothing has been going right for some time. They’ve not won since April 4 and are 0-7-5 since — which is a ton of draws, the most in MLS. Since the World Cup they have two 0-0 draws, a 2-1 loss and another 1-1 draw.
As recently as July 22, these teams drew 0-0 in New England. Last year it was 1-1 and 2-1 New England. Under 2.5 has cashed in 5 straight and Under 3.5 is 7-0 and 9-1, and none of those 10 games have seen over 4 goals.
This could be another draw or a low-scoring outcome.
- MLS picks: Under 4.5
- Parlay Picks: HOU over 1.5 / TOR vs NE under 4.5 (+101)
MLS Picks and Parlays #3
Nashville SC vs Inter Miami Prediction
1st in the East meets 2nd here in a huge match for Supporters’ Shield placings.
These teams always seem to play each other. This will be 3rd time this season with the drawing twice in CCC, 0-0 and 1-1 and Nashville moving on with road goals. Last year they played 5 times: twice in the regular season with Miami winning 2-1 and 5-2 and then 3 times in the playoffs with Miami winning 3-1, then Nashville winning 2-1 and then Miami winning Game 3 4-0 and moving on. Both teams have scored in 9 of the past 11 meetings. This will be the 12th match between them in just 3 seasons.
In Leagues Cup, neither is moving on. Nashville took the chance to mix and match their lineups and had some success but overall lost 1-0 to Leon, beat San Luis 4-1 and then lost in the final moments to Monterrey 2-1. They did see Cristian Espinoza return from injury. In his 45 mins of play in one game, he had 6 shots, 3 on target and 2 goals.
The Yotes have struggled of late with just 1 win 5, while having conceded 1-2 goals in each of those games.
Miami was already depleted. Maybe unexpectedly they got Messi back after missing the second Leagues Cup game and he came off the bench in the second half, but lost Micael on defense. Suarez was suspended for Leagues Cup but he’s eligible to return for the MLS games and he’s been one of the hottest players in the league. Before Leagues Cup he had scored in 4 straight with 7G/1A in that time.
Miami only have 1 win in 4 right now and have given up 3, 2, 2 and 2 goals in their last 4. They’ve scored in 18 straight and BTTS & Over 2.5 is 9-2 in all comps lately. In Leagues Cup it was a 4-2 win over San Luis, 2-1 loss to Monterrey and 3-2 loss to Leon.
Neither team is in perfect form right now. Nashville are home and healthier, but Miami have Messi and Suarez back in the lineup. I do lean to a Nashville win or Nashville to score 2+, but this, like many Miami games could also just see goals.
- MLS picks: BTTS & over 2.5 (-150) ADD Messi 1+shot on target (-115)
MLS Picks and Parlays #4
There’s 4 games on Sunday and this one looks like it jumps out to me as the most exciting.
Chicago Fire vs Portland Timbers Prediction
Portland came up short of advancing in the Leagues Cup after beating Puebla 5-2, losing to America 3-1 and then beating Tijuana 3-1. They were 7th on the MLS side and outside of the top 4. Lassister came out as the most impressive with 3 goals in the tournament. The trend of high-scoring Timbers games all season continued as well. The BTTS & Over 2.5 is now on an 8-0 run, they’ve scored multiple goals in 6/7, but have conceded in all but 1 game in all comps this season. Marti Cifuentes took over as coach vs Tijuana and go his first win but now gets his first MLS game in charge. The Timbers are 5-1-1 in their last 7 overall.
Chicago were the class of the MLS side as the only perfect 3–0-0 team in Leagues Cup, beating Necaxa 2-0, Santos Laguna 3-1 and Cruz Azul 2-1. The Fire are running hot as well with 4 straight wins, wins in 7/9, and multiple goals scored in 8/9. They too, can give up goals, having done so in 10/12, only shutting out Montreal and Necaxa.
This looks like a game with goals. Adding Lewandowski, Zinckernagel, Kelsy or Velde into props for an SGP could improve the price. Puso Dithejane was the star for Chicago vs Azul with 2 goals on Thursday.
- MLS picks: BTTS & Over 2.5 (-175)
Seattle Sounders vs Vancouver Whitecaps Prediction
Having met in the CCC Round of 16, this will be the 3rd time these teams have played this season and Vancouver will be looking for some revenge after losing 3-0 and 2-1 in March.
Neither team advanced in the Leagues Cup, though both fielded rotated lineups for much of it. For Seattle, a lot of that was due to necessity with tons of injuries. They lost 3-0 to Toluca, beat Queretaro 3-0 and then lost to Chivas 2-1. Alex Roldan did return in the final minutes of the Chivas game which is good news.
The Queretaro win is their only win in 9 games, the rest are all losses, and Queretaro are a weaker team in Mexico and also heavily rotated their lineup that game. That’s also Seattle’s only clean sheet in 16 games, while they have only 7GF in their last 9.
Vancouver lost 1-0 to Atlante, then 3-1 to Juarez and then drew Tigres 1-1 before losing in PKs. Brian White also left injured in Game 2. Ryan Gauld was getting minutes though and has returned.
The Caps have yet to win in any competition since the World Cup break being winless in 6, while they have only 2 wins in their last 11 and just 3GF in their last 5. They’ve also only shut out Minnesota in their last 12.
I came into this match thinking Vancouver, or maybe a Vancouver double chance, but given the poor run of form for both and Seattle being at home, maybe both can score.
Either BTTS or VAN double chance.
- MLS picks: Vancouver double chance
- Parlay Picks: CHI vs POR btts & O2.5 / VAN double chance (-109)
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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.
