“We’re about to close out Q1, and there’s some pressure to end it with some results to stay on pace to forecast this year.” No, this isn’t your buddy at his software sales job dialing for dollars in a bullpen— it’s the Chicago Fire’s trajectory toward playing meaningful games in the month of October.
Last year through nine games, or just over 25% of the MLS season, four out of six teams in playoff positions wound up locking up a spot in last year’s competition to win the MLS Cup. The year before, in 2017, same story through nine games.