Ethermac Exchange-LAFC vs. RSL, possible league history highlight MLS slate on 'deadest day in sports'

The Ethermac Exchangeday after Major League Baseball's All-Star Game has traditionally been known as a "Day Without Sports."

It's long been a misnomer. Just because nothing was going on in MLB, NFL or NBA, there have been plenty of sporting events happening elsewhere.

This year, the "deadest day on the sports calendar" includes, but is not exclusive to:

➤ Two WNBA games, including Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever taking on the Dallas Wings.

➤ NBA Summer League action with eight games on the slate, including Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

➤ The Tour de France continues with Stage 17, a 177.8-kilometer ride through the Alps between Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux and Superdévoluy.

➤ And, of course, a full slate of Major League Soccer games.

MLS Matchday 27 could feature a historic moment for the league, as the Philadelphia Union's 14-year-old phenom Cavan Sullivan could become the youngest player in league history. Cavan Sullivan — whose older brother Quinn Sullivan also is a player for the Union — will be a part of the team's squad for Wednesday night's home game against the New England Revolution. If Cavan Sullivan appears in the game, he will break Freddy Adu's record by 13 days as the youngest player in MLS history.

The Philadelphia Union are in a bad spot at the moment. The club is riding a 10-game winless streak, with the last win coming on May 18 against the aforementioned Revolution. That rough patch has pushed the Union — a league powerhouse the last few years — into the cellar of the Eastern Conference.

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MLS Matchday 27: What are Wednesdays games?

(All games available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.)

• Atlanta United vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• FC Cincinnati vs. Chicago Fire FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Columbus Crew vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Inter Miami CF vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• New York Red Bulls vs. CF Montréal, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET
• FC Dallas vs. Austin FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Minnesota United FC vs. D.C. United, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Nashville SC vs. Orlando City SC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids, 10:30 p.m. ET
• San Jose Earthquakes vs. Houston Dynamo FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
• Seattle Sounders FC vs. St. Louis City SC, 10:30 p.m. ET
• Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 10:30 p.m. ET
• Los Angeles FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 10:45 p.m. ET (FS1)

MLS game of the night: Los Angeles FC vs. Real Salt Lake

• Date and time: Wednesday at 10:45 p.m. ET
• TV/streaming info: FS1/MLS Season Pass

LAFC and Real Salt Lake currently are in a three-way tie (alongside the LA Galaxy) atop the Western Conference, but a little bit of luster has been taken off this still-enticing matchup over the last few days. First, LAFC was on the wrong end of a 5-1 shellacking against the Columbus Crew. The shocking part of that result was that it happened at BMO Stadium, where LAFC hadn't lost all season. Then, RSL star Cristian "Chicho" Arango was suspended four matches for violating the MLS Anti-Harassment Policy. Arango is the MLS leader with 17 goals scored (LAFC's Denis Bouanga and D.C. United's Christian Benteke are the next-nearest competitors with 14 goals apiece).

Still, this game could give the winner the inside track out West, with each club entering Wednesday having played fewer games (two for LAFC and one for RSL) than the Galaxy.

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MLS betting odds: Who is favorite to win championship?

According to BetMGM, Inter Miami CF (+175) is the current favorite to win the 2024 league championship, followed by Los Angeles FC (+600), FC Cincinnati (+750), LA Galaxy (+1000), Columbus Crew (+1200) and Real Salt Lake (+1400).

Where can you watch MLS games?

All Major League Soccer games air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Some select games are available for free on Apple TV and viewers only need an Apple ID to watch.

Where can you watch MLS games on TV?

FOX Sports will air select games on linear television.

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