1. Seattle Sounders FC (11-7-9): Currently the top dog in the Western Conference, Seattle has put their poor start behind them and are in the midst of an 11-game unbeaten streak (6-0-5). Realistically, Sounders FC are very, very likely to make the playoffs and Quakes fans should probably root for them to finish the season strong. With two games remaining against FC Dallas and one against both Vancouver and Real Salt Lake, results for Seattle would also be good for San Jose.
2. Portland Timbers (11-9-8): The Timbers are another team in good form, holding a 4-1-2 record in their last seven matches. The good news for the Quakes is that Portland has just one away win (2-1 vs. VAN on July 23) since early April and three of their next four are on the road. A lot could hinge on their season finale at home against Vancouver.
3. Sporting Kansas City (10-5-10): The league’s top defense, several games in hand, and an undefeated home record have Sporting looking like a sure bet for the postseason. Much like Seattle, the Quakes would probably be rooting for KC to finish strong with games against Vancouver and their back-to-back showdowns with Houston on Oct. 11 and 15.
4. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (11-9-5): Whitecaps FC is a curious case in 2017. The team hasn’t been incredibly strong at home by MLS standards (6-3-3) but is very dangerous on the road (5-6-2). Vancouver certainly wants to take advantage of the next three weeks because they have four consecutive home games to build up their points total. After that, the club closes out the year with four of the last five away from home.
5. Houston Dynamo (10-8-8): The good news for SJ? Houston is one of the worst road teams in all of MLS (1-8-5). The bad news? They only have three road games remaining, compared to five at home. San Jose will have to earn all three points when these teams meet at Avaya Stadium on Sept. 16.
6. San Jose Earthquakes (10-11-6): It was very good for the Earthquakes to right the ship on the road, even if it was against the team with the worst form in MLS. At 3-2-1 in their last six, San Jose is doing enough to remain in the picture and getting three of the last four games at home could be crucial. Will be interesting to see where things stand after the D.C. road trip in late September.
7. FC Dallas (9-7-9): While FC Dallas isn’t at Galaxy-level frigidness, the Lone Star side is certainly scuffling (0-4-2 in last six). Dallas has posted just one shutout since the start of June and it came at home against the league’s worst offense in Colorado. They will have to clean up the defense if they want to return to the postseason.
8. Real Salt Lake (10-13-5): RSL is 5-1-3 in their last nine games and have surged back into the playoff picture. Their hot form has them on San Jose’s heels. They have six games remaining, all against Western Conference opponents, and their next three games against Vancouver, Portland and Seattle could define their season.
9. Minnesota United (7-14-4).
10. LA Galaxy (6-14-5).
11. Colorado Rapids (6-15-4).
