Day 15: What to know, how to watch in MLS Season Pass

As teams dig deeper into their depth charts and look for a change in momentum, let’s explore what’s in store for them on Gameday 15. We’ve got a dozen games on Saturday, then another two on Sunday to round things out.

Most of you already know the exercise. But in case you don’t:

• Apple TV – Free = the games are free to watch; you just need an Apple ID.
• Apple TV – MLS Season Pass = MLS season pass subscription required.
• Tune in the MLS 360 Interactive show for live views and analysis of the key moments of each game.
• MLS Countdown is your input, and MLS Summary comes at the end of the night.

Inter Miami has had its ups and downs this season, and they are in danger of another long losing streak. The biggest concern, aside from long-term injuries to midfielders Jean Mota and Gregore, is that the Herons haven’t posted a shutout since Game 2. Drake Callender has been solid in goal, but the back line needs to buckle up.

Miami meeting a Montreal team that has scored the second fewest goals in the Eastern Conference (12) could be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Will Carles Gil be healthy enough to start or even come off the bench? Revs head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena was optimistic when speaking to local media, but there are no definitive details after 2021 MLS MVP Landon Donovan limped off at the first half of last weekend’s game with a muscle strain. Add in how Dylan Borrero (for the year) and Gustavo Bou (length TBD) remain out, and New England’s attack looks a lot less fearsome.

Chicago, still rocky under new coach Frank Klopas, seems to have unlocked a more committed and productive Xherdan Shaqiri. The Swiss star has three assists in Chicago’s last four games in all competitions, finding both form and fitness.

Back home at last, NYCFC took just one of a possible 12 points on offer from a four-game road trip. That has knocked them out of the Audi MLS Cup Playoff field down to 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

It’s an entirely different story for Philly, which is 4W-0L-2D in its last six games, showing no sign of a post-Concacaf Champions League semifinal hangover. Dániel Gazdag, quietly, has been spectacular posting 6w/7a in 12 games, following his Best XI fielded by the Continental Tire team last season.

Only two players in league history, Toronto FC’s Adama Diomande and Inter Miami’s Josef Martinez, have scored nine times in the first 600 minutes of their MLS careers. Atlanta DP forward Giorgos Giakoumakis can either join that duo or become the first to reach 10 goals in that span on Saturday night.

At the other end? DP striker Ercan Kara is red hot for Orlando City, contributing 4g/2a in the club’s last five games as they have arguably turned the corner.

The vibes aren’t great right now at Toronto FC, and it’s not just the injuries.

The Reds, last in the Eastern Conference table, find themselves with a solid DC group that has gone 4W-1L-2D in their last seven games. Wayne Rooney’s team also features four key veterans: Steven Birnbaum, Taxi Fountas, Pedro Santos and Andy Najar. back available for selection this weekend.

The big concern for Austin FC? Center back Leo Väisänen picked up a potentially serious injury midweek at the US Open Cup. That would be a really tough setback for Verde & Black, who have already felt the ill effects of another center back (Julio Cascante) falling he missed a long stint earlier this year. And they have been without Sebastián Driussi.

Houston is winless in four (0W-2L-2D), though it did get a midweek confidence boost by reaching the US Open Cup quarterfinals thanks to a Corey Baird hat-trick. Maybe he can provide a spark for his sizzling attack.

Emanuel Reynoso’s return is getting closer (probably not this weekend, but still).

The Loons sit sixth in the Western Conference without their Argentine No. 10, a great performance considering his importance to their structure and offense.

RSL returns home after back-to-back victories over Rocky Mountain Cup rival, winning one-goal games in Colorado in the league and Open Cup.

If St. Louis pulls out a win against Vancouver, it will become the first expansion team to reach 25 points in its first 13 MLS games. Only three other clubs have done it in 16 games or fewer. This all follows CITY SC’s record start in MLS, following a brief hiatus in form that coincided with DP striker João Klauss (quad) remaining injured.

The Whitecaps, after booking a spot in the 2023 Canadian Championship final midweek, are looking to win on the road for the first time this year. Doing it in a raucous CITYPARK will not be easy.

Only four teams have reached 33 points in 14 or fewer games in league history, and Cincinnati could become the fifth to do so when it travels to Colorado on Saturday. While history is in their sights, Orange & Blue’s place at the top of the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield tables has been driven mostly by home form.

The rapids? They are desperate for a home win, going 0W-3L-3D this season at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Colorado is also coming off a two-loss week against Rocky Mountain Cup rival Real Salt Lake, first in the league and then in the Open Cup.

Riqui Puig stirring the pot was not a plot line I predicted for the LA Galaxy’s 2023 season.

Without the young standout, San Jose has lost back-to-back games 2-1 while visiting both Los Angeles teams. That’s more of a coincidence than causation, but it’s still interesting to note before the Earthquakes return to PayPal Park.

If the chips fall in favor of FC Dallas this weekend, they could move up to second in the Western Conference. That would require a lot of effort, with Paul Arriola, Sebastian Lletget and Paxton Pomykal possibly all absent due to injury.

At the very least, you have San José coach Luchi González taking on his old team.

Seattle has one win in five games (1W-3D-1D), has lost the Western Conference lead and sectors of the fan base are restless. The Extratime team broke it down with a mostly “don’t panic” message.

Now an upgraded Red Bulls team is coming to town. They have gone 2W-0L-1D in the league since head coach Troy Lesense took over.

DP forward Alan Pulido (thigh injury) was listed as questionable in Sporting KC’s midweek availability report. That would be, uh, inopportune considering they’re also without Willy Agada for the long haul. Pulido has had some strong moments after returning from a knee injury that also ended his 2022 season.

After being shut out in back-to-back games, can Portland’s attack come back to life? The Timbers need more than the Evander show to do that.

Nashville has won each of its last three home games at GEODIS Park, outscoring opponents 8-2 in those games. They have never won four home games in a row in the club’s history, something Hany Mukhtar and company won’t want to change.

Columbus has one win in its last six league games, and hit a roadblock in the No. 1 year under head coach Wilfried Nancy. After resting first-choice players midweek in a US Open Cup Round of 16 outing, perhaps Lucas Zelarayán and Cucho Hernández can make a change.