MLS Week 4 Odds & Picks: LA Galaxy vs LAFC, New York Red Bulls vs Toronto FC & More

• MLS Week 4 kicks off on Friday, May 7, 2021
• Chicharito makes his debut in the El Tráfico LA rivalry
• Read on for the odds and our best bets from MLS Week 4 here

MLS Week 4 gets underway Friday night with RSL hosting San Jose at 9:30 pm EST. The weekend features plenty of intrigue with Chris Armas returning to New York with Toronto, and rivalries galore including Dallas vs Houston, Portland vs Seattle and the marquee matchup between the LA Galaxy and LAFC in El Tráfico.

Minnesota has their work cut out for them as the only 0-3 team to start the year. It’s a hole that many teams often struggle to climb out of as since 2000 only six teams have started 0-3 and made the playoffs. FC Cincinnati finds themselves on a bye this week, which may be a good thing as they’re off to a slow start (0-1-2) while only winning four of their past 25 since Jaap Stam took over.

MLS teams were in play midweek for the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL), with Philadelphia advancing to the semifinals at the expense of Atlanta United, but each of Toronto, Columbus and Portland being sent packing. But who will be more tired? The Columbus Crew after the CCL, or their weekend opponents, DC United? DC, whom head coach Hernan Losada has openly criticized for starting the season out-of-shape and overweight.

Let’s look ahead to the odds and best bets from the MLS Week 4 schedule below.

MLS Week 4 Odds

Odds as of May 7 at DraftKings

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New York Red Bulls vs Toronto FC Prediction

It’s the Chris Armas bowl as Toronto FC’s current head coach returns to New York to face his old team at 1:00 pm EST Saturday in MLS Week 4. Armas spent six years in New York and departed the team last September.

Toronto has already been involved in two high-scoring matches, a 4-2 loss against Montreal and a 2-2 draw with Vancouver. Against New York, it’s a contrast of styles with the Red Bulls the league’s highest pressing team with 813 pressures. Toronto ranks 27th with 298.

Caden Clark is 17 and he only knows how to score bangers 😎

(🎥: @MLS)pic.twitter.com/oY7Csc0HSm

— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 1, 2021

Meanwhile New York’s matches have featured plenty of goals as well: 2-1 loss (SKC), 3-2 loss (Galaxy) and 2-0 win (Chicago). Cristian Casseres and youngster Caden Clark have both been off to strong starts for the Red Bulls with two goals each.

Toronto is coming off an exit from the CCL after their 1-0 loss to Cruz Azul in Mexico on Tuesday. The extra match and travel surely could force Armas into some squad rotation.

Last year New York won 2-1 and the teams drew 1-1 in their other meeting. Home teams are 4-1-0 (WDL) in the last five in this matchup and New York is riding an impressive streak where they have scored at least one goal in 15-straight MLS matches.

Yeferson Soteldo: I know about the history of this club, their MLS Cup Championship in 2017. I knew I was looking to move to MLS and I want to be part of the growth of this club. pic.twitter.com/L9ceXRBh7w

— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) May 6, 2021

I think that streak continues against Toronto, but TFC should also be motivated to get their first win of the season and a win for Armas as well. In addition, new Venezuelan DP signing Yeferson Soteldo trained this week and is said to be available for selection this weekend.

I think we see goals in this one and will back both teams scoring, with someone finding at least a third.

Pick: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 (-105 at Bet365)

Nashville SC vs New England Revolution Prediction

First-place New England travels to Nashville at 1:30 pm EST Saturday afternoon in MLS Week 4. New England will put their 2-1-0 (WDL) record on the line against Nashville which has drawn all three of their matches so far.

Nashville fell behind 2-0 in each of their opening fixtures, ending both 2-2, while they settled for a 0-0 draw with Inter Miami last week.

The clean sheet came down to this stop @JoeWillis23' quick reflexes gave us a point against Inter Miami CF, and gives us our @Allstate Save of the Match.#EveryoneN pic.twitter.com/8fRxvC4BVD

— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) May 7, 2021

New England had an early lead with Atlanta last week before each team scored a penalty for the match to end 2-1 in the Revs’ favor.

Playing behind for much of the opening two matches forced Nashville to attack. And they lead the league in shots and shots on target after three weeks. They also have the highest expected goals (xG) overall at 6.6. That’s 0.6 higher than NYCFC at 6.0 who ranks second in the league.

Outside of a poor opening half against Chicago, the Revs have done little wrong and have conceded just a single goal since, a penalty, in their past two. They’ve also only allowed ten shots on target, the sixth-best mark in the league.

2️⃣4️⃣ hours out 🤠

🆎 Slice x Dice#NERevs | #FBF pic.twitter.com/cs8JkpqDvt

— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) May 7, 2021

Both of the meetings between these teams last season during Nashville’s expansion year ended in a stalemate—0-0 and 1-1.

Betting a New England win at +210 looks like a great price as they are definitely the better side. But New England to win or draw (double chance at -148) or the ‘Draw No Bet’ market at -120 will offer you some protection if they don’t collect all three points.

Pick: New England – Draw No Bet (-120)

LA Galaxy vs LAFC Prediction

This crosstown rivalry is renewed and will feature the Galaxy’s Chicharito for the first time in El Tráfico when the two LA-based teams meet at 8:00 pm EST Saturday in MLS Week 4. What we don’t know yet is if LAFC’s superstar, Carlos Vela will also be in the lineup. The Mexican stars are good friends and seeing them go head-to-head is surely what all fans and also bettors want to see. This matchup has been wild in its short existence and is usually filled with goals. No Carlos Vela could bring those totals down. Though LAFC will still be plenty dangerous with the likes of Diego Rossi, last year’s Golden Boot winner in the lineup.

Hard not to like this guy…https://t.co/q2n9e5PWPS

— Andrew Wiebe (@andrew_wiebe) May 7, 2021

The first seven times these teams met both teams scored in all seven. While at least four goals were scored in six of those seven. Scoring was down a little in 2020, with the Galaxy winning 2-0 and 3-0 and LAFC winning 2-0 over their three meetings.

Galaxy games this year have been high-scoring. They are 3-0 to the OVER. With Chicharito getting off to a hot start, LA’s offense put up six goals in their first two matches. Last week, the offense ran dry against MLS Cup finalists Seattle in a 3-0 loss. They’ve now conceded a worrying seven goals in three matches. Their expected goals-against (xGA) also rank third-worst in MLS at 6.6. Only winless Minnesota (7.5) and Cincinnati (8.8) have worse xGA numbers.

.@CH14_ 🆚 @11carlosV

"What puts it over the top is how it is going to be perceived in the Mexican media which can really move the perception of @MLS"

– @MaxBretosSports #ElTrafico

🎙️ https://t.co/tg4oCUxL6g
📺 https://t.co/N8uQm2Vmukpic.twitter.com/Ri44cDbdhj

— Jillian Sakovits (@JillianSakovits) May 6, 2021

Bob Bradley’s LAFC have understandably been a bit out of sorts without Vela. They were up just 1-0 until late against expansion Austin FC and have now posted back-to-back 1-1 draws against Seattle and Houston.

It’s hard not to see both teams scoring. The Galaxy at home and with Chicharito in good form should find the back of the net. And Vela or no Vela, you also can’t trust the Galaxy defense to keep a clean sheet. Both scoring and at least three goals to be scored is likely a safe bet. But at home, at a large underdog price, I think there is value on the Galaxy to at least grab a point in this. The ‘Double Chance’ market at -121 will cash should the Galaxy win or draw.

Pick: LA Galaxy – Double Chance (-121)