MLS: Will Insigne play and how does his injury impact TFC odds?

A double-take look at the MLS standings shows Toronto FC improbably sitting in a four-way tie for second spot in the East with three wins (they had four all last year).

But the leg injury to Lorenzo Insigne in their 2-0 win over Atlanta in wintry Toronto on Saturday (yes, Atlanta was missing a few starters) has put a damper on all that. Insigne makes $15.4 million a season, second to Lionel Messi’s $20.4 million, and so far this campaign he has earned it, with two game-winning goals. TFC Republic was reporting yesterday that Insigne is suffering from a hamstring injury and his status is still unclear. Defender Shane O’Neill suffered a concussion and didn’t finish the first half against Atlanta.   

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With four shutouts so far this season, TFC, under new coach John Herdman, hosts Sporting Kansas City this Saturday at BMO Field, at 7:30 p.m. If you are betting online, BetMGM has TFC as slight betting favourites, at 2.50, while Sporting Kansas City is 2.65 (3.40 for a tie). At DraftKings odds are TFC 2.45, Sporting KC 2.70, tie 3.25.

They’ve moved up in several power rankings published this week and it’s understandable why that is. Just how good they are is the biggest question mark.  

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On Saturday, LAFC busted out after a few scoreless weeks with a 5-0 beatdown over Nashville SC last weekend, led by Denis Bouanga’s two goals. LA Galaxy, led by Dejan Joveljic, also busted out after being down 2-0 to win 3-2 over the aforementioned SFC. 

FC Cincinnati is good enough to win a second straight championship - they moved up in some people’s power rankings after their 1-0 win over New York City FC. The New York Red Bulls hammered Messi-less Miami 4-0, led by three goals by Lewis Morgan (giving him five on the year). Said Miami coach Tata Martino afterwards: “The Red Bulls had a desire to win. We did not even have a desire to compete.” Miami went down a few notches in power rankings this week. Ouch. 

So we’re early in the MLS season, but narratives are starting to form. Not much has changed on the MLS futures chart. 

BetMGM still has Inter Miami as the favourite to win the league championship, at 3.50, followed by Columbus Crew (10.00), FC Cincinnati (11.00), Los Angeles Galaxy (13.00), New York Red Bulls (13.00) and Los Angeles FC (15.00). 

Toronto FC is at 67.00 (CF Montreal is at 34.00, same as the Vancouver Whitecaps).

As a comparable, at theScore Bet, it’s much the same: Miami (3.75), Columbus (9.00), FC Cincinnati (11.00), LA Galaxy (13.00), NY Red Bulls (13.00), LAFC (15.00). Toronto FC is at 34.00.

Miami hosts New York City FC on Saturday, 7:30 p.m., favoured at 1.75 according to BetMGM odds (New York City FC is 4.10, a tie is at 3.80). Messi, 36, tallied five goals and two assist in MLS and CONCACAF Champions Cup matches to start the season. But he’s been dealing with a hamstring issue and missed two Argentina friendlies against El Salvador and Costa Rica. Martino said he is being evaluated “week by week.” 21700

Despite missing games, Messi is still the betting favourite to score the most goals this season (3.25), followed by Georgios Giakoumakis of Atlanta United FC (4.30), Luis Suarez of Miami (8.00), Christian Benteke of D.C. United (11.00), and Juan Camilo Cucho of Columbus Crew (15.00). 

The betting odds on Insigne are 29.00.