Wednesday MLS slate has LA Galaxy playoff ramifications

It's time once again to pull out our fixtures and our tables to figure out how things can shake out after the next round of MLS match-ups. The New York Red Bulls were the only team to clinch over last weekend, with a draw over the New England Revolution putting them out of reach of the Fire.

This week in the west, with the Sounders seven points ahead of the Earthquakes, they can ensure at least a fifth place finish by getting three points on Wednesday or if San Jose fails to get all three points that day. The Quakes dropping any points will also clinch a berth for Real Salt Lake.

The Whitecaps can be eliminated on Wednesday, should they lose to the Sounders and the Rapids defeat the Quakes. As great as it would be to eliminate a team from playoff contention, if the Galaxy are interested in top three finish in the Western Conference they need to root for upsets.

A Sounders loss would keep them within three points and would spend their match in hand. A Rapids loss keeps them in fifth place. Then when the Sounders and Timbers face off this wekeend, any result keeps third place in play.

The two Western Conference matches being played on Wednesday are quite important, so it's worth paying attention to.