D.C. United versus Sporting KC lineup: Back to the back four

Brad Mills-USA TODAY SportsD.C. United starts a run of 7 games in between now and June 1 on Sunday against Sporting Kansas City. That comes out to 7 games in 20 days, with six of those being MLS matchups and the seventh is the friendly against Real Betis. The team will have to do more than half of this run without Chris Durkin, who is at the U-20 World Cup. So how will D.C. United kick off the three week spring between now and the Gold Cup break? Let’s take a look.

The absence of Donovan Pines both heralds a return to the 4-2-3-1 and gives us a very good idea of who the back line will be. Steven Birnbaum and Frederic Brillant will anchor the defense in the absence of Pines, who I think could…