MLS Anytime Goal Scorer Picks, Odds, Predictions for Friday, April 17, 2026

By Phil West | Jul 23, 2026, 12:24pm

Major League Soccer has experimented with some schedule changes over the years to try to maximize viewers. Last year, a great majority of the matches locked into Saturday evening, when much of MLS’ core viewing audience were in stadiums rather than in front of their TVs, computers, or smartphones.

A few years ago, MLS tried to provide games in multiple windows, which they’re doing to a certain degree in 2026. Friday’s match, in which Sporting Kansas City travels to Vancouver, was the consummate Friday night matchup of that era — think of those teams, in college football terms, as a Boise State for the soccer-curious.

Between the two teams — currently first and last in the West — they’ve scored a combined 26 goals, with Vancouver scoring 19 of those. With a home crowd behind them, the Whitecaps look far more likely to score (and, given the 17 goals SKC’s let in so far this season, score often).

Friday’s Best MLS Goal Scoring Pick

Thomas Müller, Vancouver (-120)

Thomas Müller Anytime Goal Scorer (-120)

Best Odds Available:

So far this season, SKC has four goal scorers in what’s been a limited lineup; Dejan Joveljić is leading the way with four of the team’s seven. He might be due again, but against a Vancouver defense with All-Star goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka minding net, goals might be harder to come by.

Of the Vancouver options, Brian White, with six goals on the season to put him in the Golden Boot race with co-leaders Sam Surridge and Petar Musa just one goal ahead, would seem the most obvious choice. But Müller has been taking the Whitecaps’ penalties, and given that this seems to be setting up for a classic MLS After Dark chaosfest, Müller stepping to the spot seems a completely reasonable scenario.

Müller hasn’t exactly been a slouch, scoring three goals so far this season, putting him on at least a 15-goal pace for the still-young season. With 176 goals between club and country, it’s certainly within the realm of possibilities that Friday inches him closer to the 200-goal threshold he deserves.

Photo Credit: AP/Amanda Loman

Phil West

Phil West is a writer based in Austin, Texas, whose work has appeared in a wide range of outlets, including MLSSoccer.com, Backheeled, and Howler, as well as major publications such as the Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, Austin Chronicle, and San Antonio Express-News. He also wrote two books on soccer for The Overlook Press.