COMMERCE CITY — With the Rapids in the middle of a dogfight for an MLS playoff spot, they will be without two top scoring threats this week.

Gabriel Torres, the Rapids’ marquee transfer-window signee, and rookie Deshorn Brown, who leads the team in goals, were called up to their national teams for World Cup qualifying.

The Rapids on Wednesday will face San Jose in California at 8:30 p.m. (MT). Both players should return to Colorado before the Rapids’ home game Oct. 19 against Vancouver.

Torres, 24, joined Panama on Monday to prepare for a Friday game against Mexico at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Panama then will host the United States on Oct. 15 in Panama City.

In his last game for Panama, Torres scored twice in a 2-2 tie against Honduras.

Brown, 22, got his first call-up for Jamaica before leaving Colorado on Monday. He will be in Jamaica’s camp before Thursday’s game against the U.S. in Kansas City, Kan., and an Oct. 15 game against Honduras in Kingston. If Brown plays for the Reggae Boyz, it would be his first international cap.

“(Jamaica coach Winfried Schäfer) said he heard good stuff about me playing up here in Colorado,” Brown said Saturday after the Rapids routed visiting Seattle 5-1. “He told me to keep working hard.

“If I play, it’s going to be the greatest feeling to walk out against the U.S.,” Brown said.

Brown on Saturday scored twice for the Rapids, his first just 13 seconds into the game. He leads Colorado with nine goals this season.

“It’s a big motivation, to do my job here before I leave,” Brown said. “I made up my mind to score before I leave.”

Torres, who scored his first MLS goal Saturday late against the Sounders, has 42 caps for Panama. He left Monday morning, two days before the Rapids were set to travel to San Jose, Calif., for a crucial game against the Earthquakes.

With 48 points, the Rapids have a hold on the fifth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with three games remaining.

A Rapids victory Wednesday, coupled with a Vancouver tie or a loss, would guarantee Colorado a playoff berth.

“I would love to be here (with the Rapids) on Wednesday, because it’s an important game,” Torres said. “But it’s an unfortunate compromise with my national team. We have a chance to go to the World Cup.”

Nick Groke: ngroke@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickgroke