Los Angeles FC vs Portland Timbers Predictions, MLS Picks, Betting Tips 7/23/2020

by Guy Bruhn - 7/22/2020

Game: Los Angeles FC vs Portland Timbers

Date: Thursday, July 23, 2020

Location: ESPN Sports Complex in Orlando, FL

TV: ESPN2

Odds/Point Spread: Los Angeles (-167) Portland (+400)

ESPN Sports Complex is the venue where Felipe Mora and the Portland Timbers (3-0-1, 3rd in the Western Conference) will play Los Angeles FC (2-2-0, 4th in the Western Conference) on Thursday. The goalkeepers protecting the net are Kenneth Vermeer for Los Angeles FC and Steve Clark for the Portland Timbers. LAFC is priced at -167 while the Timbers are at +400. The over/under has been set at 2.75.

Los Angeles has been able to maintain possession for 63.5% of matches while successfully dribbling 57.1% of the time (16th in the league). They have caught 1,772 passes from teammates on 2,140 targets for the season, earning them a receiving percentage of 82.8%. LAFC as a team have 13 goals for the season, which is 1st in the league. They have launched 83 shots at their opponents goal with 38 on target, which is a 45.8% shots on target percentage.

Mark-Anthony Kaye is a guy who should be able to impact this game for LAFC. Kaye has been a starter in 104 outings thus far in his career and he tallies 0.13 goals per 90. The midfielder who is from Canada has earned 13 goals scored (162nd among active players) in 8,996 minutes. He has 18 assists while accumulating 18 yellow card cautions during his MLS career. Someone else who should impact this match is Latif Blessing, the midfielder who was born in Ghana. He has assisted a teammate on a goal 11 times so far in his MLS career while scoring 15 goals. Blessing has earned 6,368 mins in 68 career starts and has earned himself 10 yellow cards. He averages 0.21 goals per 90 minutes thus far in his career (123rd among active players).

The guy protecting the net for Los Angeles is Kenneth Vermeer. Vermeer (128-51-49 record during his career) has totaled 73 shutouts, which has his sitting with a 31.6% shutout percentage. The goalie from the Netherlands has seen 857 shots tried against him in 231 starts. His goals against per 90 mins is 1.24 (286 total goals allowed) and his save % is .692. Vermeer has played for 20,684 mins and has tallied 593 saves in his career.

The Timbers have had success dribbling 61.1% of the time for the campaign while earning 6 goals. They hold a receiving percentage of 87.1% and they control possession of the ball 51.8% of the time. Portland has accumulated 1,942 pass targets so far this year (8th in the league) to go along with 1,691 successful received passes. The have hit on 42.5% of their shots on 40 total shots.

Felipe Mora will need to provide a lift for Portland. The forward who was born in Chile has totaled 10,969 minutes while he has scored 56 goals (29th among active players). He has accounted for 14 yellow card warnings thus far in his career and has assisted a teammate on a goal 5 times. He is currently averaging 0.46 goals per 90 and has had a starting assignment in 50 matches in his career. Be sure to keep an eye out for Sebastian Blanco, the forward from Argentina. He has scored 44 goals during his career while assisting a teammate on a goal 40 times. Blanco has been handed 46 yellow cards in 15,845 professional minutes played (177 career starts). His goals per 90 minute average in his pro soccer career is 0.25 (104th among active players).

Steve Clark is expected to look after the goal for the Timbers. Thus far in his career, Clark has given up 319 goals while he has accumulated 765 stops in 217 starts. He has given up 1.47 goals per 90 minutes while holding a mark of 74-62-80. He has a save % of .707 and his clean sheet rate is currently 23.0%. Clark has accumulated 50 shutouts while he has defended 1,082 shots tried against him in 19,521 mins throughout his career.

Who will win tonight's MLS game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Portland (+400)

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Los Angeles FC vs Portland Timbers Predictions, MLS Picks, Betting Tips 7/23/2020

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