On the heels of a six-game unbeaten streak, including four straight shutouts at JELD-WEN Field, the Timbers are within grasp of their first-ever MLS Cup Playoffs berth. In the last four games, the Timbers have faced off against teams in the thick of the postseason hunt and have come out with a 3-0-1 record to climb to the top of the Western Conference standings with 53 points. Two games remain on the regular-season schedule and Caleb Porter's squad can lock up a postseason berth for good with a win or a draw against Real Salt Lake on Saturday at JELD-WEN Field (7:30pm PT, ROOT SPORTS, 750 The Game / La Pantera 940). There are several other scenarios that come into play on Saturday as well, including one that could grant the Timbers a spot in the playoffs even before their match against RSL kicks off.
The Colorado Rapids square off against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at 3 p.m. PT on Saturday, a good four-and-a-half hours before the Timbers test their mettle against Real Salt Lake. If Vancouver wins or draws against the host Rapids, then the Timbers are into the playoffs.
Things aren't so black-and-white for other MLS clubs. Read on to see all of this week's scenarios involving teams that could clinch a postseason berth if things to the right way.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland Timbers will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF
- Portland Timbers win or tie vs. Real Salt Lake on Saturday
OR
- Colorado Rapids lose or tie vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday
OR
- San Jose Earthquakes lose or tie vs. LA Galaxy on Sunday
Real Salt Lake will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF
- Real Salt Lake win vs. Portland Timbers on Saturday
OR
- Real Salt Lake tie vs. Portland Timbers on Saturday AND
- Colorado Rapids lose vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday OR
- San Jose Earthquakes lose or tie vs. LA Galaxy on Sunday
Seattle Sounders FC will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF
- Seattle Sounders FC win vs. FC Dallas on Saturday
OR
- Seattle Sounders FC tie vs. FC Dallas on Saturday AND
- Colorado Rapids lose or tie vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday OR
- San Jose Earthquakes lose or tie vs. LA Galaxy on Sunday OR
Colorado Rapids will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF
- Colorado Rapids win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday AND
- LA Galaxy win vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday
LA Galaxy will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF
- LA Galaxy win vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday
OR
- Colorado Rapids lose vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday
Vancouver Whitecaps FC will be eliminated from playoff contention IF
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC lose vs. Colorado Rapids on Saturday
OR
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC tie vs. Colorado Rapids on Saturday AND
- San Jose Earthquakes win vs. LA Galaxy on Sunday
San Jose Earthquakes will be eliminated from playoff contention IF
- San Jose Earthquakes lose vs. LA Galaxy on Sunday AND
- Colorado Rapids win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Houston Dynamo will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF
- Houston Dynamo win vs. New York Red Bulls on Saturday AND
- Chicago Fire tie or lose vs. Toronto FC on Saturday OR
- New England Revolution tie or lose vs. Columbus Crew on Saturday
Montréal Impact will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF
- Montréal Impact win vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday AND
- New England Revolution tie or lose vs. Columbus Crew on Saturday
Chicago Fire will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF
- Chicago Fire win vs. Toronto FC on Saturday AND
- Montréal Impact win vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday AND
- New England Revolution tie or lose vs. Columbus Crew on Saturday
New England Revolution will be eliminated from playoff contention IF
- New England Revolution lose vs. Columbus Crew on Saturday AND TWO OF THE FOLLOWING
- Houston Dynamo win or tie vs. New York Red Bulls on Saturday AND/OR
- Chicago Fire win vs. Toronto FC on Saturday AND/OR
- There is a winner in Montréal Impact vs. Philadelphia Union
OR
- New England Revolution tie vs. Columbus Crew on Saturday AND
- Houston Dynamo win vs. New York Red Bulls on Saturday AND
- Montréal Impact win vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday AND
- Chicago Fire win vs. Toronto FC on Saturday
Columbus Crew will be eliminated from playoff contention IF
- Columbus Crew lose or tie vs. New England Revolution on Saturday OR TWO OF THE FOLLOWING
- Montréal Impact win vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday OR
- Philadelphia Union win vs. Montréal Impact on Saturday
- Chicago Fire win vs. Toronto FC on Saturday
