1. Louisville City FC

Current Record: 13-4-5, 44pts

Maximum Points Available: 74

Points Needed to Clinch: 12

Avg. Finishing Position: 1.3

Last Game: W 5-0 vs. Harrisburg City Islanders

Next Game: 8/26 vs. Orlando City B, 7:30 p.m. ET

Louisville romped to victory on Wednesday night against the Harrisburg City Islanders to move into first place in the Eastern Conference. A challenging contest is set for Saturday with Orlando City B on a club-record 10-game undefeated streak coming into Slugger Field. Some of City’s players will have memories of OCB’s dramatic win in Louisville last year and will be wanting to avoid a repeat performance.

2. Charlotte Independence

Current Record: 12-4-8, 44pts

Maximum Points Available: 68

Points Needed to Clinch: 12

Avg. Finishing Position: 2.3

Last Game: D 1-1 vs. Orlando City B

Next Game: 8/26 vs. Toronto FC II, 7 p.m. ET

The Independence remained undefeated at the Sportsplex at Matthews after its draw with Orlando City B this past Saturday, and with last-place Toronto FC II coming to North Carolina this weekend, the side could be within single-digits of a second consecutive playoff berth by the end of the weekend. TFC II did earn a 2-2 draw with Charlotte at BMO Field not long ago, however, meaning Charlotte will need to remain focused to get maximum points.

3. Charleston Battery

Current Record: 11-5-8, 41pts

Maximum Points Available: 65

Points Needed to Clinch: 15

Avg. Finishing Position: 3.4

Last Game: W 1-0 at Rochester Rhinos

Next Game: 8/26 at Richmond Kickers, 7 p.m. ET

The Battery broke a seven-game winless streak with their first victory in Rochester since the 2012 USL Cup Playoffs, and the side will hope that catapults it forward to ensuring a home playoff contest at the end of the regular season. Charleston will have to do without leading scorer Romario Williams when it visits the Richmond Kickers on Saturday but will hope to have enough to maintain its undefeated record since the start of the 2015 season against its historic rival.

4. Tampa Bay Rowdies

Current Record: 10-6-8, 38pts

Maximum Points Available: 62

Points Needed to Clinch: 18

Avg. Finishing Position: 5.0

Last Game: D 1-1 vs. Ottawa Fury FC

Next Game: 9/2 at New York Red Bulls II, 4 p.m. ET

The Rowdies were held by Fury FC at home this past weekend, which means if they’re going to earn a home playoff game they’re going to have to improve on the road in the final stretch of the season. Tampa Bay shouldn’t have any problems reaching the postseason from here, but how far it goes could be greatly determined by its seed.

5. Rochester Rhinos

Current Record: 9-5-8, 35pts

Maximum Points Available: 65

Points Needed to Clinch: 21

Avg. Finishing Position: 4.6

Last Game: L 1-0 vs. Charleston Battery

Next Game: 8/26 vs. Saint Louis FC, 6:05 p.m. ET

The Rhinos still have a solid chance at hosting a playoff game even with their defeat to the Battery on Saturday night, but they will want to get back into a more consistent rhythm after losing two of their last three games. Saturday’s game could be a tricky one too, with Saint Louis looking to build on its dramatic victory against Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Wednesday night.

6. FC Cincinnati

Current Record: 9-9-7, 34pts

Maximum Points Available: 55

Points Needed to Clinch: 28

Avg. Finishing Position: 8.0

Last Game: W 3-1 vs. Ottawa Fury FC

Next Game: 9/2 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 7 p.m. ET

FCC’s victory against Ottawa Fury FC could prove a major moment in the club’s pursuit of the playoffs as it shifted into the top eight for the time being. The break coming up will certainly help the rest of the way, with more than a week before another crucial contest against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds that’s sure to bring the rivalry between the two cities to the fore.

7. Bethlehem Steel FC

Current Record: 10-10-3, 33pts

Maximum Points Available: 60

Points Needed to Clinch: 23

Avg. Finishing Position: 7.0

Last Game: L 3-1 vs. Louisville City FC

Next Game: 8/26 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 7 p.m. ET

Steel FC’s two-game losing streak has hit its projected seed, and dragged it back into the edge of the playoff race. There’s certainly no shame in falling to the top two teams in the conference, and Bethlehem has the edge of having a game in hand on each of the three teams directly below it. That said, a loss to the Riverhounds on Saturday would cause some serious questions after the side struggled down the stretch a season ago.

8. Orlando City B

Current Record: 7-6-11, 32pts

Maximum Points Available: 56

Points Needed to Clinch: 24

Avg. Finishing Position: 8.3

Last Game: D 1-1 at Charlotte Independence

Next Game: 8/26 at Louisville City FC

Orlando’s 10-game undefeated streak has been an impressive feat, but going 3-0-7 in that span has kept OCB in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race. A draw would certainly be a good result against Louisville on Saturday, but the team needs to start winning more frequently if it’s not to see itself overtaken.

9. New York Red Bulls II

Current Record: 9-11-4, 31pts

Maximum Points Available: 55

Points Needed to Clinch: 25

Avg. Finishing Position: 9.4

Last Game: W 4-0 vs. FC Cincinnati

Next Game: 8/27 at Ottawa Fury FC, 2 p.m. ET

New York’s victory against Cincinnati on Sunday was its third in the past five games, a sign that the defending champion might finally have found its form in a bid to return to the postseason. Sunday’s game with Fury FC could be pivotal, though, with the Red Bulls II’s playoff percentage rising to 55.2 percent with a win and dropping to 24.5 percent with a loss.

10. Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Current Record: 7-8-9, 30pts

Maximum Points Available: 54

Points Needed to Clinch: 26

Avg. Finishing Position: 9.9

Last Game: W 2-1 at Saint Louis FC

Next Game: 8/26 vs. Bethlehem Steel FC, 7 p.m. ET

The Riverhounds are officially back in serious playoff contention after their win against Saint Louis, and they get another big opportunity back at Highmark Stadium on Saturday night when in-state rival Bethlehem Steel FC visits. With a win, the Riverhounds would pull level with Bethlehem on points and earn their second three-game winning streak of the season.

11. Saint Louis FC

Current Record: 8-10-5, 29pts

Maximum Points Available: 56

Points Needed to Clinch: 27

Avg. Finishing Position: 8.9

Last Game: W 2-1 vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC

Next Game: 8/26 at Rochester Rhinos, 6:05 p.m. ET

Saint Louis still has a game in hand on the teams it’s chasing for a playoff position, and a dramatic comeback victory against Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Wednesday night has put the side squarely back in the middle of the battle for a first playoff berth. But going into a tough place to play in Rochester on Saturday, the pressure is on to get at least a draw out of the contest and build on the momentum Seth Rudolph’s late goal provided.

12. Ottawa Fury FC

Current Record: 7-9-7, 28pts

Maximum Points Available: 55

Points Needed to Clinch: 28

Avg. Finishing Position: 10.3

Last Game: L 3-1 at FC Cincinnati

Next Game: 8/27 vs. New York Red Bulls II, 2 p.m. ET

After Wednesday night’s defeat against FC Cincinnati, Fury FC returns home to face another crucial game in its pursuit of a playoff position against the New York Red Bulls II on Sunday. The side has a game in hand on a few of the teams surrounding it, and with five home games in its last nine, there’s a chance for a strong closing drive. The question will be whether the club can find the consistency needed to achieve it.

13. Harrisburg City Islanders

Current Record: 6-12-6, 24pts

Maximum Points Available: 48

Points Needed to Clinch: 32

Avg. Finishing Position: 12.8

Last Game: L 5-0 vs. Louisville City FC

Next Game: 9/6 vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies, 7 p.m. ET

Harrisburg’s 5-0 drubbing against Louisville City FC on Wednesday night put a large nail in the City Islanders’ coffin. The side now has a break before its final seven games of the season, which will likely need the kind of run the club produced of four wins in five games in late June and July that had the idea of postseason soccer at the forefront of the City Islanders’ fans minds.

14. Richmond Kickers

Current Record: 4-12-8, 20pts

Maximum Points Available: 44

Points Needed to Clinch: 36

Avg. Finishing Position: 14.3

Last Game: W 2-1 vs. Toronto FC II

Next Game: 8/26 vs. Charleston Battery, 7 p.m. ET

The Kickers’ streak of reaching every edition of the USL Cup Playoffs is coming to an end, with the preseason prediction of Head Coach Leigh Cowlishaw that this would be the toughest season competitively in the club’s history proving remarkably prescient. The only thing for Richmond to do now is play spoiler, and they’d like nothing more than to put a dent in longtime rival the Charleston Battery’s playoff plans this Saturday.

15. Toronto FC II

Current Record: 4-14-6, 18pts

Maximum Points Available: 42

Points Needed to Clinch: 38

Avg. Finishing Position: 14.4

Last Game: L 2-1 at Richmond Kickers

Next Game: 8/26 at Charlotte Independence, 7 p.m. ET

TFC II’s playoff hopes will have to wait another season, too, but the side will want to go out with its head held high. Saturday’s visit to Charlotte gives the team a chance to throw a spanner in the works as the Independence pursue the top spot in the East.