MLS Picks, Predictions & Best Bets for Saturday, May 24

• Matchday 15 in MLS kicks off with thirteen games on Saturday and two more set for Sunday
• San Diego FC look to continue their fairy tale first season against league-worst LA Galaxy
• See the odds for all fifteen games set for MLS Matchday 15 along with this weekend’s best bets

Fresh off last weekend’s spicy Rivalry Week, we’re blessed with another weekend packed with MLS action. Matchday 15 kicks off Saturday morning when the Seattle Sounders host FC Dallas at 3 pm ET and comes to a conclusion on Sunday Night Soccer at 7 pm ET, when Atlanta United host FC Cincinnati.

There are juicy matchups across the league this weekend, including first-in-the-East Philadelphia Union hosting Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and a possible road win for LAFC when they take on CF Montreal.

MLS Matchups & Odds for Matchday 15

My key matchup to watch this weekend is early on Saturday, when expansion San Diego FC looks to take down the LA Galaxy for a second time this season. Kickoff is set for 4:45 pm ET at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium.

San Diego are big favorites to win at home at -143, with the visiting Galaxy getting a long +350 to pick up the away victory. Odds for a draw are at +310. Over 2.5 goals is a decently priced -163, while the under is getting +125. Odds on “Both Teams To Score” is sitting at -188, where a “no” for BTTS is getting +125.

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San Diego FC vs LA Galaxy Picks

I promise, I’m not just reaching for low-hanging fruit by going after the shortest odds for the weekend. In my defense, San Diego is getting the second-shortest odds on Matchday 15, but I digress. For me, the intrigue in San Diego FC vs LA Galaxy lies in the bizarre dichotomy taking place between these two teams in 2025.

Originally, 2025 was meant to be a learning experience for San Diego, particularly for a club with no prior history, USL or otherwise. They weren’t meant to replicate the expansion success of 2023’s St. Louis CITY SC (56 points, 17 wins) or 2018’s LAFC (57 points, 16 wins). They were supposed to languish for a season or two at least. That’s why their MLS Cup odds were hovering around +5000 to open the season.

But then the season started, and this immediately happened:

The Galaxy were off a MLS Cup-winning season! The scheduling gods handed them a gimme by opening their 2025 against an expansion side! But San Diego is quickly making this dynamic, in-your-face brand of football its hallmark, fully deserving of their current, third-place seat in the Western Conference standings.

SDFC get contributions up and down the lineup. They boast twelve different goalscorers, tied for the highest total in the league. Standouts include Anders Dreyer (6G/6A), Chucky Lozano (4G/6A), Onni Valakari (3G/5A), and Luca de la Torre (2G/1A). In total, they have seven different players with at least one goal and one assist this season.

In comparison, it’s been all downhill for Los Galácticos ever since.

LA are currently mired in a history-making winless streak, opening the season with a record of 0-10-4. They’re at or near the bottom of the charts when it comes to Goals Allowed (33), Goal Differential (-21), xGD/90 (-0.80), Shots on Target Pct (30.9%), Defense 3rd & Final 3rd Tackles (87, 22), Aerial Duels (43.1%), and Interceptions (95). This screams that the Galaxy are a team that don’t want to challenge you.

What are they good at, you ask? Errors Conceded (13), Penalty Kicks Conceded (4), and Own Goals (2). It’s been a wild 14 games in all the wrong ways.

Do I think the Galaxy will right the ship this weekend against San Diego? No, I do not. Last week’s 87th minute equalizer against LAFC was not enough of a turning point to suggest that the Galaxy’s historically bad winless start to the season will end any time soon. Expect MLS debutantes San Diego to upend the league champs for the second time this season.

San Diego FC vs LA Galaxy Best Bets

• San Diego FC to Win (-143)
• Anders Dreyer to Score or Assist (-120)

Other MLS Predictions & Best Bets for MLS Matchday 15

• Los Angeles FC to Win (+115) @ CF Montreal

One of three road favorites on Matchday 15, LAFC have been climbing the Western Conference standings, going undefeated in their last seven matches (3-0-4). Admittedly, that does include last week’s draw against rivals LA Galaxy, with The Black and Gold giving up a late equalizer. All the more reason for LAFC to give their collective head a shake and bounce back on Saturday.

Meanwhile, CF Montreal continue to spiral. Yes, they finally picked up their first win of the season, a 1-0 win at NYCFC. But that was two weeks ago! They’ve since lost 6-1 at home to rivals Toronto, then again midweek to the CPL’s Forge FC. They’re bottom of the East for a reason and can do little to convince me that LAFC won’t pick up all three points.

• Tai Baribo to Score (+162) vs Inter Miami

A prime opportunity to ride a hot hand (or, in this case, foot) against a team going through an existential slump. Baribo currently heads the MLS goalscoring charts with 11 goals in 13 games, while posting an xG of just 7.82. In other words, he’s playing out of his socks right now.

The same cannot be said for Miami, where everyone in pink is trying to avoid the wrath of Lionel Messi, who’s only seeing red. The Herons have given up FIFTEEN GOALS in their last five MLS matches! I’m not saying the Union will win outright, but look to their top scorer when up against a team that is giving away goals like candy.

• FC Cincinnati to Win (+170) @ Atlanta United

I’m going against my own personal MLS mantra of “Don’t Bet On Road Teams” (for the second time this week, I know), but the timing is right. Cincinnati are rolling, going 8-1-2 in their last 10 to firmly plant The Knifey Lions in second in the Supporter’s Shield standings. They boast a healthy 4-3-1 away record, which means something when your next match is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Cincinnati also own the seventh-best Goals Allowed record in the league (15 in 14 games), which is relevant because Atlanta cannot buy a goal lately. The Five Stripes have notched just three in their last four matches, and four in their last eight. As far as the dirty south goes, that’s filthy. I would not be surprised if Cincy scores early and parks the bus to ride out a 1-0 win.