1. Louisville City FC

Current Record: 16-5-7, 55pts

Maximum Points Available: 67

Points Needed to Clinch: IN

Avg. Finishing Position: 1.0

Last Game: D 1-1 at Ottawa Fury FC

Next Game: 9/27 at Toronto FC II, 7:30 p.m. ET

Louisville could have built itself an even bigger lead in the Eastern Conference and moved level on points with Real Monarchs SLC on Sunday after its top two rivals in the standings both fell, but with a seven-point and its nearest two challengers for first having only three games remaining, it’s hard to see a scenario where Louisville isn’t the No. 1 seed in the East. A win against Toronto will clinch at least two home games in the postseason, but more importantly, it will put pressure on the Monarchs to match the result later in the night.

2. Charlotte Independence

Current Record: 13-7-9, 48pts

Maximum Points Available: 57

Points Needed to Clinch: IN

Avg. Finishing Position: 3.0

Last Game: L 1-0 at Tampa Bay Rowdies

Next Game: 9/29 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7 p.m. ET

The team that benefits immediately from the decision to allow tiebreakers to be used pre-emptively to determine playoff position is the Independence, who cannot be overtaken by Orlando City B in total wins and as a result books its place in the postseason. While Charlotte is back in the postseason for a second consecutive season, though, it will be looking for a bounce-back performance when it hosts Cincinnati on Friday to try and hold onto second place in the standings. If it can, it would provide a boost to the others hovering around the red line directly below FCC.

3. Charleston Battery

Current Record: 13-8-8, 47pts

Maximum Points Available: 56

Points Needed to Clinch: 1

Avg. Finishing Position: 3.3

Last Game: L 2-1 at Orlando City B

Next Game: 10/1 at Ottawa Fury FC, 2 p.m. ET

The Battery missed out on a chance to overtake the Independence for second place with their loss to Orlando City B and will get a second crack at clinching a playoff place on Sunday afternoon, when it visits Ottawa Fury FC in its first visit to TD Place.

4. Tampa Bay Rowdies

Current Record: 12-7-8, 44pts

Maximum Points Available: 59

Points Needed to Clinch: 5

Avg. Finishing Position: 3.7

Last Game: W 1-0 vs. Charlotte Independence

Next Game: 9/27 at Bethlehem Steel FC, 3 p.m. ET

The Rowdies couldn’t have asked for a better set of results than those that arrived on Saturday night, which moved the side back into the top four immediately and opened up the chance to take second place in the Eastern Conference when it’s all said and done. That said, a pair of games against a talented Bethlehem Steel FC side that is also fighting for its playoff spot is going to be a challenge over the upcoming week.

5. Rochester Rhinos

Current Record: 11-7-10, 43pts

Maximum Points Available: 55

Points Needed to Clinch: 6

Avg. Finishing Position: 4.8

Last Game: L 1-0 at Richmond Kickers

Next Game: 9/30 vs. Louisville City FC, 6:05 p.m. ET

Back-to-back draws have been followed by back-to-back defeats for the Rhinos, who have dropped out of the top four in the Eastern Conference as a result. With a visit from Eastern Conference-leader Louisville City FC up next for the Rhinos, getting some kind of bounce-back display is going to be important as it looks to avoid sliding any further.

6. FC Cincinnati

Current Record: 10-9-10, 40pts

Maximum Points Available: 49

Points Needed to Clinch: 9

Avg. Finishing Position: 7.6

Last Game: D 2-2 at Saint Louis FC

Next Game: 9/29 at Charlotte Independence, 7 p.m. ET

Cincinnati’s dramatic late draw with Saint Louis earned the side a point, but wins for both Orlando City B and Bethlehem Steel FC put the pressure back on in the race for a playoff spot. FCC’s path doesn’t get easier, either, with Friday’s visit to Charlotte seeing the Independence in serious need of a win as well. The biggest question of all, though, is which FCC side will we see in action?

7. Orlando City B

Current Record: 9-8-12, 39pts

Maximum Points Available: 48

Points Needed to Clinch: 10

Avg. Finishing Position: 7.9

Last Game: W 2-1 vs. Charleston Battery

Next Game: 10/1 at Richmond Kickers, 5 p.m. ET

Orlando’s late victory against the Charleston Battery pulled its playoff push back into focus, but the side still has the fewest available points of the four teams bunched between sixth and ninth positions going into this weekend’s action. Wins for the Charlotte Independence, Tampa Bay Rowdies and Pittsburgh Riverhounds would change that, though, and leave OCB with a chance to maintain its top-eight position at a venue in City Stadium where it has already claimed victory once this season.

8. Bethlehem Steel FC

Current Record: 11-11-5, 38pts

Maximum Points Available: 53

Points Needed to Clinch: 11

Avg. Finishing Position: 6.7

Last Game: W 3-2 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Next Game: 9/27 vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies, 3 p.m. ET

Steel FC’s victory against the Riverhounds not only moved Bethlehem back into the top eight, and put the side at an 84 percent chance to reach the postseason, but put a major dent in Pittsburgh’s hopes. Bethlehem can cement its position in the top eight this week as it squares off with the Tampa Bay Rowdies twice thanks to Wednesday’s rescheduled contest from Sept. 9 due to Hurricane Irma. With as much as is on the line for both teams, and the styles of soccer they bring, both should be must-see contests this week.

9. New York Red Bulls II

Current Record: 11-12-5, 38pts

Maximum Points Available: 50

Points Needed to Clinch: 11

Avg. Finishing Position: 8.0

Last Game: L 4-2 at FC Cincinnati

Next Game: 9/30 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 4 p.m. ET

The Red Bulls II didn’t see things go their way over the weekend but still go into Saturday’s game with the Riverhounds in the knowledge that if they take care of their business from here out, a playoff place will be waiting for them. With a win, and some good results elsewhere over the week, the Red Bulls II could easily be back in the top eight by next Sunday night.

10. Saint Louis FC

Current Record: 9-12-8, 35pts

Maximum Points Available: 44

Points Needed to Clinch: 14

Avg. Finishing Position: 10.6

Last Game: D 2-2 vs. FC Cincinnati

Next Game: 9/30 at Harrisburg City Islanders, 7 p.m. ET

Should Saint Louis miss out on the postseason for a third consecutive season, nights like Saturday are the ones that are going to hurt the most when the team looks back on its season. A lost two-goal lead and a dropped two points could prove crucial when it’s all over and means Saint Louis absolutely must win against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday night.

11. Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Current Record: 8-10-11, 35pts

Maximum Points Available: 44

Points Needed to Clinch: 14

Avg. Finishing Position: 10.7

Last Game: L 3-2 at Bethlehem Steel FC

Next Game: 9/30 at New York Red Bulls II, 4 p.m. ET

The path to the playoffs is now a tricky one for the Riverhounds, who will likely need to win out in addition to getting plenty of help to earn a return trip to the postseason. That quest starts on Saturday against a New York Red Bulls II side that has won four consecutive games at MSU Soccer Park and has only lost to the Riverhounds once in six prior meetings between the teams.

12. Ottawa Fury FC

Current Record: 7-9-12, 33pts

Maximum Points Available: 45

Points Needed to Clinch: 16

Avg. Finishing Position: 11.3

Last Game: D 1-1 vs. Louisville City FC

Next Game: 9/27 at Harrisburg City Islanders, 6:30 p.m. ET

Five consecutive victories, the past two in which Fury FC has hit the woodwork in stoppage time, have almost called time on Ottawa’s playoff hopes for this season. Both of this week’s games for Fury FC are now a must-win, or the side could be mathematically eliminated from postseason contention by the end of Sunday’s clash with the Charleston Battery.

13. Harrisburg City Islanders

Current Record: 8-14-7, 31pts

Maximum Points Available: 40

Points Needed to Clinch: 18

Avg. Finishing Position: 12.6

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

Next Game: 9/27 vs. Ottawa Fury FC, 6:30 p.m. ET

Harrisburg will get to try and continue its good recent run of form against Ottawa Fury FC on Wednesday night but would be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with a loss at FNB Field in either of its games this week.

14. Richmond Kickers

Current Record: 7-14-8, 29pts

Maximum Points Available: 38

Points Needed to Clinch: 20

Avg. Finishing Position: 13.7

Last Game: W 1-0 vs. Rochester Rhinos

Next Game: 10/1 vs. Orlando City B, 5 p.m. ET

The Kickers continued to play spoiler on Saturday night, as they helped knock the Rochester Rhinos out of the top four in the Eastern Conference, and the teams hovering around the red line will be hoping Richmond can do the same when Orlando City B arrives at City Stadium in need of a victory to maintain its playoff push.

Eliminated: Toronto FC II