MLS Matchday 14 kicks off on Wednesday May 15, with 13 games and 26 teams in action and we’re back to break down the matches and provide our top MLS predictions, picks and parlays for this week.
If the midweek edition of Rivalry Week is anything like the weekend, we could be in for more craziness and more goals. And maybe road wins. This weekend 4 games ended in 3-2 wins for the away team and 8 road teams won overall.
It was the 2nd most on a single day in MLS history (52 on Saturday) but 55 overall when counting Sunday.
And in all of those goals, the Whitecaps couldn’t get just 1 to give us sweep of our picks and parlays. But I’ll still take a 3-1 weekend any day.
Orlando City vs Inter Miami Prediction
There were 3 meetings last season with Orlando winning the first one 3-1 in Miami. But that was in May. That was before Messi and friends arrived. In the Leagues Cup Miami won 3-1 at home, then back in MLS they drew 1-1 in Orlando.
This season, they’ve already played once, in Miami on March 2 and it was a blowout Miami win, 5-0. Messi had 2, Luis Suarez had 2 and Robert Taylor had 1 as well.
Back in Orlando, I expect the Lions to have a better showing. That doesn’t mean a win, but at least to score. Assuming Miami wins or at least scores 2, this could be a good BTTS & Over 2.5 bet.
Miami has seen that bet cash in 8 straight. They fell behind 2-0 in Montreal Saturday but that may have been the worst thing Montreal could do. Miami stormed back and won 3-2. Previous scores for Miami: 6-2, 4-1, 3-1 and 3-2 (all wins), plus 3-1 loss, 2-2, and 2-1 loss. Miami has scored in 16/17 in all comps, but given up a goal in 14 straight.
Orlando is also off a 3-2 road win, in Philly and are 3-2-2 in their last 7, scoring in 6 of those 7, and multiple in 4. And there was finally a Luis Muriel sighting. The DP who had done little so far, finally scored for Orlando and scored twice this weekend. They also stopped a PK late in the game to preserve the win.
Miami keeps falling behind in games but with this roster it doesn’t matter. They’ll likely get scored on again here on the road, but you know they’ll score every game. Someone gets a second.
- MLS Predictions: BTTS & Over 2.5
FC Cincinnati vs Atlanta United Prediction
Cincy already beat Atlanta once this season 2-1 at the Benz in Atlanta on April 20. That’s the 4th straight BTTS Over 2.5 game between them, but Atlanta has not won any of them.
Atlanta on the road is also rarely a good bet. They’re 0-2-2 this season and have scored just once. But they’re not good home or away right now losing back to back MLS games, both at home, and being winless in 6 MLS games.
Back to their road form and they’re winless in 10 road MLS games going back to last season and in all comps, have only 2 road wins in 23 games.
The reigning Supporters’ Shield winners Cincy, went on the road in Hell Is Real and beat the reigning MLS Cup champs Columbus on Saturday 2-1. Lucho Acosta had a goal and assist and new forward Kevin Kelsy opened his account with a goal. He’ll give Cincy a new, big attacking weapon up top.
They’ve won 4 straight and in 16 games in all comps have scored in 13, plus in 10 straight. But 5/6 games have ended 2-1 one way or another and another prior to that 1-1, so they have been conceding.
Cincy should win and certainly score versus a banged up Atlanta backline in the MLS picks here.
- MLS Predictions: Cincinnati to score
- Parlay Picks: ORL vs MIA both to score & over 2.5 / CIN to score (-105)
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Philadelphia Union v NYCFC Prediction
There’s just 3 points are between these sides with New York 5th with 17 points and Philly 9th with 14 points.
New York won 3-2 in Toronto on Saturday, have won 4/5 and have just 1 loss in 7. They have given up a goal or more in 3+ and in 10/12.
The road has not been a good place for NYC wins or bets either, as they have just 2 wins in their last 24 road games in all comps. In those 24 games they’ve kept just 2 clean sheets and none in their past 11.
Philly lost 3-2 at home to Orlando and are slumping hard with 0 wins in 5. But there’s been a ton of goals coming at both ends in Union games with recent scorelines of: 3-2, 2-2, 3-2, 2-1, 2-2, 2-1.
In 15 games all comps Philly has scored in 13, only failing vs Pachuca in Champions Cup. They’ve also conceded in 13 too.
Philly has had tons of success versus NYC with recent wins of 2-1, 3-1, 3-1, 2-1, and 2-0. Bets on BTTS is 7-1 though in the past 8 head-to-heads.
Certainly, BTTS could be the play or let’s just ask Philly to score. The Union also get Julain Carranza back after serving suspension this weekend.
- MLS Predictions: Philadelphia to score
St. Louis City SC vs LAFC Prediction
St. Louis leads the league in draws (7), but they played a team with just 2 wins, Chicago, on Saturday and won 3-1. While they may not be winning a lot of games, they also aren’t losing, being undefeated in 5, with just 2 losses in 13 overall matches.
Scoring on Saturday at home means they’ve scored in 6/7 overall home matches this season and in 22/26 of their all-time games at CITPARK.
LAFC blanked Vancouver 3-0 at home Saturday. They have the league’s best home record at 5-2-0, scoring 17 and allowing 6.
But LAFC are tied for the worst road record in MLS at 0-1-4, and being outscored 13-5.
In the only 2 ever meetings, last season, LAFC won 3-0 in LA, and they drew 0-0 in St. Louis. There was a pre-season game in February this year, won 1-0 in St. Louis by St. Louis.
This time I see at least a goal or more from both for the MLS Matchday 14 picks.
- MLS Predictions: Both to score
Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders Prediction
RSL coughed up a 2-0 road lead in LA and drew the Galaxy 2-2 Saturday, but they’re still 1st in the West and 3rd in the Supporters’ Shield standings. Chicho Argango scored 2 more goals and he’s tied with Luis Suarez and Christian Benteke for the Golden Boot lead.
RSL had a loss in the USOC last week, but in MLS, they’re still undefeated in 8 games and in all comps, they’ve scored in 11 of their past 12 and multiple goals in 4/5.
But Seattle may be turning things around with a win on Sunday, wins in 3/4 and being undefeated in 4 overall.
It was 2-0 Seattle at home and 0-0 RSL at home in MLS, before RSL won 3-0 at home in the Leagues Cup last year. RSL hasn’t lost any of their past 14 home games with Seattle
RSL is the better team right now but Seattle rarely get blown out and look improved. Let’s just ask RSL to score.
- MLS Predictions: RSL to score
- Parlay Picks: PHI score / STL vs LAFC both score / RSL to score (+120)
Portland Timbers vs San Jose Earthquakes Prediction
San Jose got their first road win since last August on Saturday, going down early 2-0 in Colorado but storming back to win 3-2.
That’s now an undefeated streak of 4 in all comps, and 11 goals scored in their last 5. But it also extends a streak of giving up a goal in every single MLS game this season, plus multiple goals in 10/12.
Portland has the rest disadvantage playing Sunday and losing at home to Seattle 2-1. That extends their winless slide to 9 games and a run of 8 games in a row giving up 2+ goals. Only 2/12 Timbers games have not seen BTTS & Over 2.5 and those were Portland road games in Houston and Charlotte, two decent defensive sides. San Jose is not that.
The teams drew 0-0 in San Jose in MLS, Portland won 2-0 at home in the Leagues Cup at home and Portland won 2-1 at home in MLS last season.
Fun fact. In 20 all-time home games against San Jose, the Timbers have never failed to score. They’ve won 14/15 recent home games with the Quakes as well.
The Quakes are the league’s worst defense so that likely continues. But then the Timbers are the league’s second-worst defense. But Portland is the 4th best offense and San Jose is the 5th-best when it comes to scoring.
San Jose gives up the 3rd most shots on target, while Portland gives up the 4th most.
This game coud be chaos. This could be BTTS & Over 2.5 or just BTTS. Take your pick.
- MLS Predictions: Both to score & over 2.5
Minnesota United vs LA Galaxy Prediction
After being held off the scoresheet in 2 games, LA fell behind 2-0 at home to RSL but fought back and tied it on basically the last kick of the game. As usual, they piled up the chances though with 23 shot attempts and 12 corners.
The long run of BTTS bets has ended in Galaxy games but they’ve still scored in 10/12, scored multiple in 7/12 and allowed a goal in 10/12 and allowed multiple goals in 7/12 as well.
The Loons will be fresh having been off this weekend but remain 2nd in the West, tied with LA for 20 points.
Minnesota has won 3 straight, but have just been average at home at 2-2-1, scoring all 5, but also conceding in 4.
These teams played some wild games last season with LA winning 4-3 and Minnesota 5-2, both at home. But looking further back there are also scores of 3-2, 1-1, 3-3 and 3-0.
This very well could be another high-scoring game. I am a little concerned LA’s scoring has dipped just a little and Minnesota will be fully rested.
So to get this soccer parlay to even-money you could just ask for Over 1.5 game goals. The Galaxy are 10-2 to Over 1.5 totals and Minnesota is 10-0. Or for the same very short price, just Minnesota to score.
- MLS Predictions: Minnesota to score
- Parlay Picks: POR vs SJ both to score & over 2.5 / MIN to score (+100)
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.