Week 30 of the 2017 MLS season is about as loaded as it gets. With eight Wednesday games on tap, 16 of the league’s 22 teams have double game weeks. Atlanta United, Chicago and Vancouver can clinch playoff berths with favorable results. But there are also a handful of sides on opposite ends of the red line who can certainly improve their playoff hopes with a good showing. Three teams in each conference garner added attention in that regard.

The New York Red Bulls, Montreal Impact and New England Revolution are all fighting for that final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Though RBNY are currently above the red line, they find themselves winless in their last six. Meanwhile, both Montreal and New England pulled off surprise wins against Toronto FC last week. If either can build off that success, they may yet have a chance at sneaking into the playoffs as the six-seed.

Out west, the San Jose Earthquakes, Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas need points during this two-game stretch in week 30 to augment their postseason prospects. All three have winnable home games on Wednesday as well. The Quakes appear to have the toughest test against the Chicago Fire. But they’ve only lost once at Avaya Stadium all year while Chicago have eight defeats on the road thus far.

Atlanta United is an interesting case during this week’s slate of games. With the Five Stripes facing fellow expansion club Minnesota United on Tuesday, it means they have a whopping three games in six days. Two of those are at their new digs, both of which are against teams well below the red line, including Minnesota. But this grueling stretch is beginning to take its toll, as the Miguel Almiron injury on Sunday showed.

With regard to our overall standings, let’s just say that John’s lead is beginning to look a bit precarious. It’s down to three with Dan claiming another weekly title, going 9-5 last week. With 20 games on offer this time around, the potential is there for plenty of fluidity among our four aspirants.

Last Word SC MLS Pick ‘Em: Week 30

EXPERT	ATL v. PHI	MTL v. NYC	RBNY v. DC	ORL v. NE	DAL v. COL	HOU v. LA	SJ v. CHI	SEA v. VAN	ORL v. DAL	TOR v. RBNY	CLB v. DC
John Bava (10) @LWOSJohnBava								DRAW	DRAW
Daniel Sperry (7) @SperryDaniel94	DRAW	DRAW			DRAW	DRAW		DRAW
Matt Pollard (7) @LWOSMattPollard		DRAW		DRAW	DRAW			DRAW
Robert Kerr (7) @LWOSR2Kerr2		DRAW					DRAW	DRAW	DRAW

EXPERT	NE v. ATL	CHI v. NYC	HOU v. MIN	COL v. MTL	SKC v. VAN	LA v. RSL	SJ v. POR	PHI v. SEA	ATL v. MIN	RECORD	PCT
John Bava (10) @LWOSJohnBava		DRAW		DRAW		DRAW	DRAW			157-183	46.2%
Daniel Sperry (7) @SperryDaniel94	DRAW							DRAW		154-186	45.3%
Matt Pollard (7) @LWOSMattPollard		DRAW	DRAW	DRAW		DRAW	DRAW			149-191	43.8%
Robert Kerr (7) @LWOSR2Kerr2	DRAW			DRAW						146-194	42.9%