MLS 2023 Picks: Predictions, Analysis for Saturday's Games

This weekend, Major League Soccer has just six games scheduled ahead of a full midweek lineup to look forward to next Wednesday.

We’ve analyzed the six upcoming games and put together our picks for the half-dozen matches.

Columbus Crew (+200) at New York City (+115) 

Columbus Crew is searching for its third win in a row at New York City this Saturday after failing to make a shutout in its past six games.

This does bode well for a New York team that has scored just 17 goals in 17 games and lost seven times already in 2023. Worse yet, it is as low in the standings as it has been since coming into MLS almost a decade ago.

Nobody has scored more goals than the Crew (35) so far, so we expect a few goals.

Columbus Crew to win and both teams to score is +418 at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Real Salt Lake (+370) at D.C. United (-160)

Real Salt Lake is in search of just its sixth win of the season when it is at D.C. United. Real Salt Lake is going to have a tough time picking up that win.

RSL has let in the most goals in the Western Conference this year, and only LA Galaxy, Minnesota United and Colorado Rapids have scored fewer times.

However, D.C. has scored 25 and conceded 24 and has failed to earn a shutout in its past four games. We think D.C, will still get the win, however, but expect both teams to score. 

What’s more, former Premier League star Christian Benteke has scored eight MLS goals after his late winning finish at Inter Miami two weeks ago.

D.C. United to win, both teams to score and Christian Benteke to score anytime is +423 at Unibet.

Orlando City (+300) at New England Revolution (-130) 

The New England Revolution are three points ahead of Orlando City going into a game in Boston on Saturday.

Last time out, New England defeated Miami 3-1 as it failed to earn another shutout. It has now let in 10 goals in its past five games, and even when it achieved a shutout in that five-game spell, it failed to score in a 0-0 tie with New York.

At the same time, Orlando has defeated the New York Red Bulls and Colorado and Miami in its past five games and has not lost an MLS game since losing to Montreal at the start of May.

It makes for an interesting game, and we think Orlando could leave with a point.

A draw at halftime is +120 at FanDuel.

St. Louis City (+390) at Nashville (-170) 

Second meets with fifth in the Supporters' Shield standings with the top of the Western Conference, St. Louis City, at Nashville. 

Nashville's journey to second in the overall standings has seen the team win nine games and let in just 12 goals in 17 matches. No team in MLS has a better defensive record. 

St. Louis, however, has scored 33 times. Only Columbus has netted more goals, while it has also won nine games. 

We give the edge to Nashville in this one, as St. Louis has won just three times away from home, while Nashville has won six times at home. 

The Music have also picked up 68 fouls in its past five games and will likely need to have a similar output here to stop a relentless St. Louis offense.  

Over 9.5 corners, Hany Mukhtar to score and both teams to score is +390 at DraftKings Sportsbook. 

Portland Timbers (+240) at San Jose Earthquakes (+100)  

The San Jose Earthquakes won again last weekend by defeating Philadelphia Union 2-1, which ended a nine-game unbeaten run for last year’s Eastern Conference winners. 

We expect the Quakes to keep up this winning form, as the Portland Timbers have scored just two goals in the past five games and defeated only Dallas in this time. 

San Jose to win 2-0 is +800 at Caesars Sportsbook. 

Los Angeles (+155) at Sporting Kansas City (+155) 

What a contrasting few weeks it has been for Los Angeles FC and Sporting Kansas City after previously sitting in completely different areas of the form guide. 

LAFC has failed to win its past six games and headed out of the U.S. Open Cup, lost the CONCACAF Champions League final, and failed to win three MLS games in the process. It has also failed to score in those MLS games.  

During the same period, Kansas City has only lost to St. Louis and defeated Dallas, Portland and Austin by scoring a combined 10 goals. 

These two also met this time last month, as Denis Bouanga scored for LAFC before an equalizer from Johnny Russell for Kansas City. We expect a similar outcome here. 

A 1-1 tie is +450 at BetMGM Sportsbook.