Welcome to Starting XI, our Friday rundown of what to watch for this weekend in MLS and beyond. And don't forget to get your Spanish-language fix with FutbolMLS.com.
Recommended musical pairing (per new media editor Nick Rosano): "Sandinista!" by The Clash.
1. 14,000 FEET HIGH AND CLIMBING: The Rocky Mountain Cup isn’t always the most visible rivalry in MLS, but it’s one of the fiercest. Real Salt Lake have already claimed this year's actual trophy, but don’t think the Rapids won’t be looking to get one over on them, especially at Rio Tinto Stadium on Friday night (10 pm ET; NBCSN). For the Rapids, it's now or never if they want to make the playoffs; for RSL, they've still got an outside shot at the Supporters’ Shield. – NICHOLAS ROSANO
2. PLAYOFFS, ANYONE? Can you feel that? Or maybe you smell it? Because it's in the air. Nerves. It's that time of year again, when the race for the playoffs heats up, and we see who's going to hold their nerve down the stretch. What's the deal this weekend? Well, there's a playoff spot in the offing for the LA Galaxy, and a precarious position for Chivas USA and the Montreal Impact. – GREG LALAS
3. THE CRY GUY COMETH: We all often gritch about the Cascadian superiority complex, but there's no denying there's something special in the water – or craft beer or third-wave coffee or organic produce or whatever – up there. It's even better with some serious playoff implications. Can Portland inch ahead in the "red line" race against visiting Vancouver on Saturday evening (5 pm ET: NBCSN in US, TSN and RDS2 in Canada)? If not, might we see the Timbers Cry Guy mourn yet another lost opportunity in Stumptown? (Big thanks to Redditor ShutteredIn for the GIF.) – ANDREW WIEBE
4. SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL: Some games are just meant for primetime. Thierry Henry. Tim Cahill. Clint Dempsey. Obafemi Martins. MaybeBradley Wright-Phillips. Fresh off their US Open Cup win on Tuesday, Seattle visit New York on Saturday (7:30 pm ET; NBCSN, TSN/RDS2 in Canada) in a match with Supporters' Shield (Sounders) and playoff (Red Bulls) implications. Even if the Red Bulls don't want to say "must win" about this game, they have no choice but to admit they need a big performance on center stage. Like this one from Dempsey. Kind of. – ANDREW WIEBE
5. CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION: The Crew have outscored their opponents 10-1 in their last three home games (all wins); New England are riding a five-game winning streak. Something's gotta give on Saturday night (7:30 ET / MLS LIVE). Which streak continues could be up to a few players from each side who will almost certainly appear in next week’s 24 Under 24 ranking. The Crew's Wil Trapp scored his first goal last weekend while New England's Kelyn Rowe has a goal or assist in four of his last five. And then there's always the Revs' Diego Fagundez. – BEN BAER
6. RETURN OF THE KING: After a one-game suspension, the Landon Donovan countdown-to-retirement is back in swing this weekend, and he has the MLS all-time assists record in his sights. We’ve all seen what the Galaxy are capable of these past couple months -- 5-0-2 in their last seven -- but on Saturday night they’ll face an equally exciting FC Dallas side (10:30 pm ET; MLS LIVE). It’s a potential playoff preview, it’s one of Landon’s few remaining regular-season games, and it’ll feature some of the brightest talent in MLS right now – how could you miss this one? – NICHOLAS ROSANO
7. DC RELOADED: Does that bolded header make you think of Metallica? Good. Given the way D.C. United have been rocking out all season, that makes sense. On Saturday against the Chicago Fire (8:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE), United will be without the suspended Fabian Espindola. Whatever. Eddie Johnson is back in action, and newly acquired Samuel Inkoom is ready to lineup on the wing. Ride the lightning, eveyone! _\m/ – GREG LALAS
8. TWEET OF THE WEEK: This new logo is good for everything:
9. TFC'S GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY: Feeling frustrated, Toronto FC fans? MLS Commissioner Don Garber is right there with you. Five days after TFC midfielder Michael Bradley went nuclear on referee David Gantar in the Reds' 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire, Garber conceded on Thursday that Gantar "did not get it right" on the Gilberto's late disallowed goal. Bradley & Co. shouldn’t need any help from the officials against last-placed Chivas USA on Sunday (3 pm, UniMas). Interestingly, although Garber can "understand and sympathize with [Bradley’s] frustration," he also said the league could discipline him for his outburst. – NICK FIRCHAU
10. MEANWHILE, IN USL PRO...: With top-seeded Orlando City unceremoniously dumped from the USL PRO playoffs last weekend, who’s left to watch? Show some love for Sacramento FC, the ambitious USL PRO franchise that hosted MLS execs this week to talk about a future jump to the big time before MLS’ 24-team window shuts. They’ve got a deal in place for a downtown stadium (and renderings!) and former MLS great Preki at the helm. He's built them into the best team left in the USL PRO postseason. They host LA Galaxy II on Saturday (10:30 pm ET; all games streamed on YouTube.com). – NICK FIRCHAU
11. THE DARK ARTS: KickTV's "5 Dirtiest Players" is pretty solid work. Who do you think would rate on that list in MLS?– MATT DOYLE
