MLS Matchday 37 Preview and Free Picks

The final date of the MLS regular phase is played and the last playoff and play-in spots are being defined.

The real fight is in the Eastern Conference, where four teams are fighting for the two play-in tickets.

DC United and Montréal have the advantage, and a draw at home against Charlotte and New York City, respectively, would allow them to maintain their current spots.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia Union and Atlanta United must beat Cincinnati and Orlando City, respectively, and hope that one of the top teams loses.

On the other hand, in the Western Conference, the only thing that remains to be decided is whether Minnesota United will go straight to the playoffs or that place will go to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

MLS weekly picks betting odds

MLS Matchday 37: Philadelphia Union vs. Cincinnati

Philadelphia is looking for a feat. They must beat one of the best teams in the tournament and hope that DC United or Montreal loses their game in order to get one of the two play-in spots in the East. They have two losses in a row three games without a win and have four matches without beating this MLS opponent.

Cincinnati is no longer fighting for anything, since no matter what happens, they will not move from third place in the Eastern Conference. What they will be looking for is a win to break a three-game losing streak and get to the playoffs in the best possible way, as they have only won two of their last 11 league matches.

Philadelphia Union vs. Cincinnati Betting Pick: Draw

MLS Matchday 37: Orlando City vs. Atlanta United

Orlando City has already qualified for the playoffs and will be looking to continue its great momentum in order to reach the finals in great shape. They have three wins in a row and six in their last seven games and have seven unbeaten home matches with six wins.

Atlanta United is in the worst situation. Of the four teams fighting to qualify for the play-in, they are in last place and need to win and, in addition to the defeat of DC United or Montreal, they need Philadelphia not to win since the goal difference of Rob Valentino’s club is worst. On the road, they have one win and two draws in their most recent games.

Orlando vs. Atlanta Betting Pick: Orlando

MLS Matchday 37: CF Montréal vs. New York City FC

Montreal has a great chance to qualify for the playoffs. Home game, where they have three consecutive wins, and only need to get one point. Josef Martinez was blanked in his prior match, but before that he had five goals in three games, scoring two consecutive braces. They can’t be confident, as they were in a similar situation in 2023 and were eliminated on the last day.

New York City had a great close to the season that allowed them to secure their playoff berth thanks to their three consecutive victories, thus cutting a nine-game winless streak. After the Leagues Cup, Costa Rican Alonso Martínez has been on fire, scoring eight goals in the eight games played following the tournament.

Montréal vs. NY City Betting Pick: Draw

MLS Matchday 36: DC United vs. Charlotte FC

DC United is another of the teams that had a great close to the championship that allowed them to climb several steps and, for the moment, to be inside the play-in zone. They only need a draw to secure their place, and considering that they have only lost once in their last seven matches, it seems very likely that they will achieve it. They also have the tournament’s leading scorer, Christian Benteke, who has 23 goals in 29 games and a three-game scoring streak, a period in which he had four goals and an assist.

Charlotte is another team that will be in the finals and also took advantage of the last few weeks to recover its level. After six games without a win and three consecutive defeats, they are now undefeated in four games with three victories but have now gone five games without a win on the road. Poland’s Karol Swiderski is the same as Benteke: four goals and one assist in his last three games.

DC United vs. Charlotte Betting Pick: DC United