SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Center:Memorial Day weekend in MLS features Toronto FC vs. FC Cincinnati, but no Messi in Vancouver

Major League Soccer's Memorial Day weekend slate of games features a must-see matchup between teams that were on SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Centeropposite ends of the table in 2023.

The Saturday evening soccer football action opens with a showdown between last season's winner of the Supporters' Shield (presented to team with the most points) — FC Cincinnati — and the recipient of 2023 Wooden Spoon (symbolic award for the team with the fewest points) — Toronto FC. Things have changed in a few short months (not so much for FC Cincinnati, though, they're still good). Toronto FC is one of the season's biggest surprises, and are currently in playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. TFC has won its last two games by a combined score of 13-2 (5-1 against CF Montréal last weekend and 8-1 against CS Saint-Laurent in Canadian Championship play ... to be fair, CS Saint-Laurent is a semi-pro outfit, but still, eight goals is a lot!).

A busy late four-game late window that could provide some #MLSAfterDark mayhem will not feature Lionel Messi (nor Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets) when Inter Miami visits the Vancouver Whitecaps.

MLS Matchday 16: What are this weekend's games?

(All games available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.)

Saturday

• Atlanta United vs. Los Angeles FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Charlotte FC vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. ET
• D.C. United vs. Chicago Fire FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• CF Montréal vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• New England Revolution vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Orlando City SC vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Toronto FC vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET
• FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake, 8:30 p.m. ET
• St. Louis City SC vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Colorado Rapids vs. Minnesota United FC, 9:30 p.m. ET
• LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
• Portland Timbers vs. Sporting Kansas City, 10:30 p.m. ET
• San Jose Earthquakes vs. Austin FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
• Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Inter Miami CF, 10:30 p.m. ET

MLS game of the week: Toronto FC vs. FC Cincinnati

• Date and time: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV/streaming info: MLS Season Pass

While FC Cincinnati was cruising toward the 2023 Supporters' Shield, Toronto FC were a real mess. TFC, which just six years earlier won a treble — MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield and Canadian Championship — had plummeted to the bottom of the standings, earning the dreaded Wooden Spoon. Coach Bob Bradley was sacked and a few months later John Herdman — who coached Canada to its first men's World Cup in 36 years — was brought in as a replacement.

Toronto FC's expensive Italian import Federico Bernardeschi has been on a real run of late, scoring all six of his league goals during the month of May.

For FC Cincinnati, 2023 league MVP Luciano Acosta remains the team's primary offensive threat. He's scored seven goals and is second only to Messi for the league league in assists.

MLS betting odds: Who is favored to win?

Here are the odds for this weekend 's MLS games, according to BetMGM:

Atlanta United vs. Los Angeles FC

• Moneyline: ATL (+150), Tie (+275), LAFC (+145)
• Over/under goals: 3.5

Charlotte FC vs. Philadelphia Union

• Moneyline: CLT (+145), Tie (+240), PHI (+165)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

D.C. United vs. Chicago Fire FC

• Moneyline: DC (-160), Tie (+310), CHI (+360)
• Over/under goals: 3.5

CF Montréal vs. Nashville SC

• Moneyline: MON (+138), Tie (+240), NSH (+175)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

New England Revolution vs. New York City FC

• Moneyline: NE (+140), Tie (+250), NYC (+165)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

Orlando City SC vs. Columbus Crew

• Moneyline: ORL (-110), Tie (+270), CLB (+250)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

Toronto FC vs. FC Cincinnati

• Moneyline: TFC (+180), Tie (+240), CIN (+138)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake

• Moneyline: DAL (+175), Tie (+240), RSL (+140)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

St. Louis City SC vs. Seattle Sounders FC

• Moneyline: STL (+120), Tie (+250), SEA (+200)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

Colorado Rapids vs. Minnesota United FC

• Moneyline: COL (-105), Tie (+280), MIN (+240)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo FC

• Moneyline: LAG (-120), Tie (+275), HOU (+290)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

Portland Timbers vs. Sporting Kansas City

• Moneyline: POR (-110), Tie (+280), SKC (+240)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Austin FC

• Moneyline: SJ (-130), Tie (+290), ATX (+290)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Inter Miami CF

• Moneyline: VAN (-120), Tie (+280), MIA (+270)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

According to BetMGM, Inter Miami CF (+188) is the current favorite to win the 2024 league championship, followed by Los Angeles FC (+650), FC Cincinnati (+900), LA Galaxy (+1400), Real Salt Lake (+1400), Columbus Crew (+1600), New York Red Bulls (+1600), Minnesota United FC (+2000) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC (+2000).

Where can you watch MLS games?

All Major League Soccer games air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Some select games are available for free on Apple TV and viewers only need an Apple ID to watch.

Where can you watch MLS games on TV?

FOX Sports will air select games on linear television.

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