1. New York Red Bulls II – IN

Current Record: 17-3-5, 56pts

Maximum Points Available: 71

Last Game: W 2-0 vs. FC Cincinnati

Next Game: 9/4 at Bethlehem Steel FC, 3 p.m. ET

New York is not only in the postseason, but is closing in on the regular season championship. That quest was helped on Wednesday night by Cincinnati’s defeat by Charlotte, dropping FCC to a maximum points total of 58, and leaving Louisville as the only serious contender remaining for the regular season crown.

2. Louisville City FC - IN

Current Record: 14-4-8, 50pts

Maximum Points Available: 62

Last Game: W 1-0 vs. Bethlehem Steel FC

Next Game: 9/3 at FC Montreal, 3 p.m. ET

Louisville also benefitted from the Charlotte Independence’s victory on Wednesday, as its ceiling now sits four points higher than its River Cities Derby rival. Louisville should be wary of a hot Montreal team this Saturday, but a top-two finish is in clear sight.

3. Richmond Kickers - IN

Current Record: 12-6-8, 44pts

Maximum Points Available: 56

Last Game: D 1-1 vs. Charleston Battery

Next Game: 9/10 at Louisville City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Kickers edged into sole possession of third place with their draw against the Battery, but could have dropped a little by the time they next take to the field to face Louisville. A top-four place is still there for the taking, however, and the Kickers have their fate in their hands with games against fellow contenders Charlotte and Charleston following the tilt at Slugger Field.

4. FC Cincinnati - IN

Current Record: 12-6-7, 43pts

Maximum Points Available: 58

Last Game: L 3-2 at Charlotte Independence

Next Game: 9/5 vs. Saint Louis FC, 4:30 p.m. ET

Cincinnati’s first back-to-back losses of the season couldn’t have arrived at a worse time for its top-two aspirations, as it now has serious ground to make up on second-place Louisville. The club’s Labor Day clash with Saint Louis FC will be a tricky one, too, with STLFC desperate for points in the Western Conference race.

5. Charlotte Independence - IN

Current Record: 12-7-6, 42pts

Maximum Points Available: 57

Last Game: W 3-2 vs. FC Cincinnati

Next Game: 9/4 at Toronto FC II, 4 p.m. ET

The Independence booked their place in the postseason with a good victory against Cincinnati, and now have a chance to push for a top-four place with games coming up against Toronto and Pittsburgh before a big three-game stretch to close the season against Richmond, Rochester and Louisville.

6. Charleston Battery - IN

Current Record: 11-5-9, 42pts

Maximum Points Available: 57

Last Game: D 1-1 at Richmond Kickers

Next Game: 9/3 vs. Rochester Rhinos, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Battery earned a sixth consecutive berth in the playoffs thanks to Justin Portillo’s outstanding free kick against Richmond on Wednesday night. Up next, a date with Rochester this Saturday night in what will be a key game to determine playoff seeding at the end of the season.

7. Rochester Rhinos - IN

Current Record: 10-5-11, 41pts

Maximum Points Available: 53

Last Game: D 2-2 at Wilmington Hammerheads FC

Next Game: 9/3 at Charleston Battery, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Rhinos booked their place in the playoffs thanks to Anthony Jackson-Hamel’s late equalizer for FC Montreal on Wednesday night against Wilmington Hammerheads FC. Now back in the postseason, the defending USL champions will want to boost their seeding down the stretch, starting with Saturday’s visit to Charleston.

8. Orlando City B

Current Record: 8-9-8, 32pts

Maximum Points Available: 47

Last Game: L 1-0 at Richmond Kickers

Next Game: 9/3 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 7:30 p.m. ET

Orlando sat back over the past two days and watched the teams that could have a chance at challenging it for the final playoff berth come up short in their efforts. OCB now needs only eight points in its final five games to guarantee a playoff spot in its first season.

9. Harrisburg City Islanders

Current Record: 7-14-6, 27pts

Maximum Points Available: 36

Last Game: D 2-2 vs. Bethlehem Steel FC

Next Game: 9/7 vs. New York Red Bulls II, 4 p.m. ET

The City Islanders had to rally twice to earn a draw against the Steel, but with a victory almost a necessity, the side’s playoff hopes dimmed even more. Depending on Orlando’s result against Pittsburgh on Saturday night, Harrisburg could be eliminated in its next outing against the league-leading New York Red Bulls II next Wednesday.

10. Bethlehem Steel FC

Current Record: 6-11-9, 27pts

Maximum Points Available: 39

Last Game: D 2-2 at Harrisburg City Islanders

Next Game: vs. New York Red Bulls II, 3 p.m. ET

The Steel let two leads slip against Harrisburg on Tuesday night, another big blow to their playoff hopes with four games to go. It gets no easier for Bethlehem, either, with New York visiting on Sunday afternoon at Goodman Stadium as NYRBII looks to close in on a regular-season championship.

11. Wilmington Hammerheads FC

Current Record: 6-11-9, 27pts

Maximum Points Available: 39

Last Game: D 2-2 at FC Montreal

Next Game: 9/7 vs. Orlando City B, 7 p.m. ET

In an alternate universe, Wilmington might have had the chance to overtake Orlando City B for the eighth and final playoff place – or at least put a ton of pressure on – when OCB visited Legion Stadium next Wednesday night. Instead, the Hammerheads dropped four points thanks to late equalizers over their past two games, and sit five points back with four games remaining.

12. Toronto FC II

Current Record: 6-16-5, 23pts

Maximum Points Available: 32

Last Game: L 4-3 vs. FC Montreal

Next Game: 9/4 vs. Charlotte, 4 p.m. ET

Toronto moved to the brink of mathematical elimination with its defeat to Montreal. One more dropped point, or point gained by Orlando, will do it.

13. FC Montreal

Current Record: 6-18-2, 20pts

Maximum Points Available: 32

Last Game: D 2-2 vs. Wilmington Hammerheads FC

Next Game: 9/3 vs. Louisville City FC, 3 p.m. ET

Montreal scored late to send the Rochester Rhinos into the playoffs on Wednesday night, but now will be mathematically eliminated with anything but a win against Louisville on Saturday afternoon.

14. Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Current Record: 5-15-5, 20pts

Maximum Points Available: 35

Last Game: D 1-1 at Harrisburg City Islanders

Next Game: 9/3 at Orlando City B, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Riverhounds won’t be heading to the playoffs unless something remarkable happens. A win on Saturday against Orlando City B would keep their heads above water for now; a draw would move Pittsburgh to the brink of mathematical elimination.