After a handful of games from Wednesday to Saturday, MLS is now officially on its Gold Cup break -- a break that lasts just long enough for teams to get a breather and regroup, but not long enough that most teams will have their contingent of internationals back, CONCACAF-affiliated or otherwise.

It's all very MLS. There's no denying that some teams need the break a lot more than others.

The paucity of games means that the rankings aren't dramatically different from last week, when we did a reset of things just ahead of the midseason pause, but we are rewarding a few teams who started the season poorly for a run of good form.

We're not heartless, after all. We know just how important these rankings are.

Previous rankings: Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1

Previous ranking: 1

Next MLS match: June 28 at Colorado, 10 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+

With their Gold Cup hiatus underway, LAFC are reportedly on the verge of completing a bit of business by selling Andre Horta back to SC Braga of Portugal. Horta never clicked in LA and the club is taking a bath on the deal, but how many clubs could whiff that hard, admit failure, and not really have a problem?

Previous ranking: 2

Next MLS match: June 26 v. New England, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+

The Union handled a weakened Red Bulls team Saturday, opening up a four-point gap in the Eastern Conference. Ilsinho doesn't always do magic, but he seems to pull out the tricks when Philadelphia needs him most. Saturday's assist and goal coming off the bench made the difference.

Previous ranking: 3

Next MLS match: June 22 at Portland, 11 p.m. ET, ESPN+

While crossing their fingers that a trio of Hondurans and a smattering of other players don't get hurt on international duty, the Dynamo prepare for a trip to Portland that will happen before the Gold Cup contingent returns.

Previous ranking: 4

Next MLS match: June 29 v. Philadelphia, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+

City scored seven goals (five for themselves, two for FC Cincinnati) in a win on Wednesday night that extended the unbeaten run to 10 games. Even with the run, NYCFC was suffering from a decided lack of wins -- getting three points against the league's worst team was a must.

Previous ranking: 4

Next MLS match: June 22 at FC Cincinnati, 7.30 p.m. ET

The Galaxy labored their way to a 2-1 defeat at home against New England on Sunday night. It's the kind of result that looks bad on paper and worse in reality. LA now hits a brief pause ahead of the Gold Cup, a well-timed chance to recharge the batteries and work out some of the defensive kinks in evidence against the Revs.

Previous ranking: 6

Next MLS match: June 26 vs. Orlando, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN+

United are 0-4-1 in their past five matches, seem prone to silly mistakes, aren't getting great production from their stars, and are still just four points back of first place in the Eastern Conference. Things could be worse at Gold Cup time.

Previous ranking: 15

Next MLS match: June 26 at Toronto, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN+

You can't really have a "vintage" performance when you're only in your third season as a club, but we're going to say it anyway: The vintage version of Atlanta United showed up on Saturday against Chicago. The Five Stripes are now in third and charging up the table -- do we even need to say "watch out" to the rest of the East?

Previous ranking: 8

Next MLS match: June 28 v. Chicago

The Red Bulls got Ilsinho'd. Sometimes it happens. Whatcha gonna do?

Previous ranking: 11

Next MLS match: June 26 v. Portland, 8 p.m. ET

Considering how much time Ignacio Piatti has missed in 2019, and the up-and-down nature of the Impact's form, the fact that Remi Garde has Montreal in second place in the East (tied with DC United) is pretty remarkable.

Previous ranking: 10

Next MLS match: June 22 v. Toronto FC, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN+

FC Dallas enters the Gold Cup break in fifth place, fresh off a weird draw against San Jose playing with a makeshift group. The bright spot was the goal from debutant Francis Atuahene, a player the club needs because of the thin roster entering the summer.

Previous ranking: 9

Next MLS match: June 29 v. Vancouver, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN+

Missing something like half their team, the Sounders dropped a result in Montreal in midweek. No reason to panic, maybe, but that makes it a three-game losing streak for Brian Schmetzer's club.

Previous ranking: 12

Next MLS match: June 29 v. FC Cincinnati, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPNdeportes

Every glimmer of hope in Minnesota is quickly followed by a painful setback. Three losses in a row has the dark clouds descending on the Loons and it will be a major test of Adrian Heath. Counting on a weak group of clubs to salvage the playoffs in the West is not a winning formula.

Previous ranking: 13

Next MLS match: June 26 at DC United, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN+

The Lions are the current titleholder of the ESPN MLS Power Rankings "Dead Average" award. Good enough to represent a threat, bad enough that a multiple-goal loss to a bottom feeder is never a surprise.

Previous ranking: 14

Next MLS match: June 22 at FC Dallas, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN+

Toronto FC got VAR'd hard at home against Sporting, playing without Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore. But the Reds fought back from VAR-assisted deficits twice to secure a point, which is some comfort.

Previous ranking: 20

Next MLS match: June 26 v. Houston Dynamo, 10.30 p.m. ET, ESPN+

Chris Wondolowski scored again and the Quakes earned a point on the road in Frisco despite the howler of the year from Daniel Vega. The Quakes deserve more credit than they got here -- taking eight points from a possible 12 in their past four matches has pulled them into playoff contention.