We're approaching the homestretch of the 2019 MLS regular season, culminating in Decision Day presented by AT&T. With less than two months left in the season slate, let's take a look at the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs prospects among the Eastern Conference teams:
RELATED:Seedings & Playoff Bracket if the playoffs started today ...
Eastern Conference
| 42 PTS | 12W - 7L - 6D | +9 GD |
| Remaining Matches (9): Aug 11 vs. HOU; Aug 17 at CHI; Aug 24 vs. DC; Aug 31 vs. ATL; Sept 14 vs. LAFC; Sept 22 at RBNY; Sept 25 at SJ; Sept 29 at CLB; Oct 6 vs. NYC |
| If the playoffs started today: Round 1 bye |
| Non-believers in Jim Curtin's side — at least as conference title contenders — have been waiting for the other shoe to drop all year. Last weekend's 5-1 demolition of D.C. United suggests maybe it won't. And aside from a trip to San Jose, most of their remaining tough matches are at home. |
| 39 PTS | 12W - 9L - 3D | +12 GD |
| Remaining Matches (10): Aug 11 vs. NYC; Aug 18 at POR; Aug 23 at ORL; Aug 31 at PHI; Sept 14 vs. CLB; Sept 18 at CIN; Sept 21 vs. SJ; Sept 25 at NYC; Sept 29 at MTL; Oct 6 vs. NE |
| If the playoffs started today: Host Round 1 match |
| In addition to their league run-in, Frank de Boer's side also have the Campeones Cup and U.S. Open Cup final on their plate. After some turbulent early times for the Dutchman, a treble-winning debut season is still on the table, although road matches at Portland, Philadelphia and Yankee Stadium loom large. |
| 38 PTS | 10W - 4L - 8D | +10 GD |
| Remaining Matches (12): Aug 11 at ATL; Aug 17 at CIN; Aug 21 vs. CLB; Aug 24 vs. RBNY; Aug 31 at VAN; Sept 7 vs. NE; Sept 11 vs. TOR; Sept 14 vs. SJ; Sept 22 at DAL; Sept 25 vs. ATL; Sept 29 at NE; Oct 6 at PHI |
| If the playoffs started today: Host Round 1 match |
| Dome Torrent's squad have been a bit under the radar, in part because of their games in hand, and in part because David Villa is no longer on the roster. But if they keep picking up points at their current rate, they'll finish the year atop the East table. |
| 37 PTS | 11W - 9L - 4D | +7 GD |
| Remaining Matches (10): Aug 11 at LAFC; Aug 17 vs NE; Aug 21 at DC; Aug 24 at NYC; Aug 31 vs. COL; Sept 15 at SEA; Sept 18 at POR; Sept 22 vs. PHI; Sept 29 vs. DC; Oct 6 at MTL |
| If the playoffs started today: Host Round 1 match |
| The Red Bulls certainly have the talent necessarily to get hot late, but they also have one of the most difficult stretch runs, including two West Coast trips to LAFC and Portland. And while Aaron Long still remains on the club books for now, his transfer saga probably isn't over. |
| 36 PTS | 9W - 7L - 9D | +1 GD |
| Remaining Matches (9): Aug 11 vs. LA; Aug 17 at VAN; Aug 21 vs. RBNY; Aug 24 at PHI; Aug 31 at MTL; Sept 15 at POR; Sept 22 vs. SEA; Sept 29 at RBNY; Oct 6 vs. CIN |
| If the playoffs started today: Away Round 1 match |
| We now know the Wayne Rooney era on Potomac Avenue will end following the season. Will that news — plus the late additions of Ola Kamara, Emmanuel Boateng and Felipe — be enough to turn around a team that has been sliding for the last two months? |
| 33 PTS | 10W - 12L - 3D | -10 GD |
| Remaining Matches (9): Aug 10 at CHI; Aug 17 vs. DAL; Aug 24 at TOR; Aug 28 vs. VAN; Aug 31 vs. DC; Sept 14 vs. CIN; Sept 21 at LA; Sept 29 vs. ATL; Oct 6 vs. RBNY |
| If the playoffs started today: Away Round 1 match |
| The Impact could be a darkhorse team to make a stretch run late. Nacho Piatti is finally back following a long injury absence, and six of Montreal's last nine games are at home. That includes three against teams currently above them in the East table. |
| 7. New England Revolution |
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| 33 PTS | 9W - 9L - 6D | -7 GD |
| Remaining Matches (10): Aug 10 at SEA; Aug 17 at RBNY; Aug 24 vs. CHI; Aug 31 vs. TOR; Sept 7 at NYC; Sept 14 at ORL; Sept 21 vs. RSL; Sept 25 at POR; Sept 29 vs. NYC; Oct 6 at ATL |
| If the playoffs started today: Away Round 1 match |
| With Bruce Arena at the helm, the Revs have been the league's hottest team, and even a Gillette Stadium playoff game is starting to feel like a possibility. But can New England stay hot through a grueling, bi-coastal road trip to Seattle and then the Red Bulls? |
| 32 PTS | 9W - 10L - 5D | -2 GD |
| Remaining Matches (10): Aug 10 vs. ORL; Aug 17 at CLB; Aug 24 vs. MTL; Aug 31 at NE; Sept 7 at CIN; Sept 11 at NYC; Sept 15 vs. COL; Sept 21 at LAFC; Sept 29 at CHI; Oct 6 vs. CLB |
| If the playoffs started today: Out of playoffs |
| On paper, the Reds still easily have playoff level talent, and also one of the easier closes to the schedule. The bad news about that is it means there's only three matches left against teams they're directly competing against for playoff places. |
| 27 PTS | 8W - 11L - 5D | -1 GD |
| Remaining Matches (10): Aug 10 at TOR; Aug 14 vs. SKC; Aug 17 at MIN; Aug 23 vs. ATL; Aug 31 at SJ; Sept 7 vs. LAFC; Sept 14 vs. NE; Sept 21 at HOU; Sept 29 at CIN; Oct 6 vs. CHI |
| If the playoffs started today: Out of playoffs |
| The Lions have only the league to focus on after a disappointing home loss to Atlanta in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals that keeps them winless all-time against their Southeast rivals. Oddly, half their remaining matches are against out-of-conference foes. |
| 27 PTS | 6W - 10L - 9D | 0 GD |
| Remaining Matches (9): Aug 10 vs. MTL; Aug 14 at POR; Aug 17 vs. PHI; Aug 24 at NE; Aug 31 at CLB; Sept 14 vs. DAL; Sept 21 at CIN; Sept 29 vs. TOR; Oct 6 at ORL |
| If the playoffs started today: Out of playoffs |
| The Fire got a desperately needed victory last weekend against Houston. That needs to be the beginning of a sustained hot streak if The Men in Red have any chance at climbing back into the race and not missing the playoffs with Bastian Schweinsteiger in back-to-back seasons. |
| 25 PTS | 7W - 14L - 4D | -12 GD |
| Remaining Matches (9): Aug 10 vs. CIN; Aug 17 vs. TOR; Aug 21 at NYC; Aug 25 at CIN; Aug 31 vs. CHI; Sept 14 at ATL; Sept 21 at VAN; Sept 29 vs. PHI; Oct 6 at TOR |
| If the playoffs started today: Out of playoffs |
| Realistically, it's probably about building for next year for coach Caleb Porter. Then again, should they sweep both legs of the Hell is Real derby against expansion side Cincinnati, that's exactly the kind of thing that could spark a team to a furious stretch run. |
| 17 PTS | 5W - 17L - 2D | -32 GD |
| Remaining Matches (10): Aug 10 at CLB; Aug 17 vs. NYC; Aug 25 vs. CLB; Aug 31 at DAL; Sept 7 vs. TOR; Sept 14 at MTL; Sept 18 vs. ATL; Sept 21 vs. CHI; Sept 29 vs. ORL; Oct 6 at DC |
| If the playoffs started today: Out of playoffs |
| The remainder of 2019 will provide new coach Ron Jans a low-stakes opportunity to learn a new league while beginning to build a team identity toward next season. That includes nine matches against fellow conference opposition. |
