Backups Ahead

Are we sure there are 22 players available tomorrow night?

The last (league) match before the end of the summer tournaments and before the summer transfer window opens is here.  Well, for the half of  the teams actually going to be in LA tomorrow night.  Neither the Galaxy or Rapids will be at full strength for this one and it will probably show.  kickoff tomorrow is 8:30pm on Altitude.

Player Availability:

OUT: D Bobby Burling (knee surgery); D Sean St. Ledger (knee)

QUESTIONABLE: D Jared Watts (face)

UNAVAILABLE: M Shkelzen Gashi (Albania National team); M Jermaine Jones (U.S. National team); D Joseph Greenspan (Navy duty); D Mekeli Williams (personal issue)

SUSPENDED: D Marc Burch (yellow card suspension)

Um...yeah.  That's ugly.  Combined with the loaned out players the Rapids only have 15 players available tomorrow night.  LA has Rogers out and 3 questionable, including Gerrard and dos Santos.  They also have Keane and Zardes out with their national teams.

Starting XI Prediction:

Bench: Froschauer; Hairston; Serna; Powers; C. Doyle

That's it. Maybe Serna or Hairston goes over Miller or Badji but I doubt it.

Prediction: 0-0 draw.  This seems optimistic with that back line but given the lack of offensive options on LA this could be an ugly game where neither team gets close to scoring.  Maybe Pappa, Doyle, and MacMath are enough to eek out a 1-0 win but I don't expect it.