MLS Best Player Prop Picks, Odds, Predictions for Saturday, August 1, 2026
MLS returns this weekend following a one-week hiatus for the league’s All-Star events. Toronto and New York City FC get things started on Friday evening before a massive 14-game slate on Saturday. Fans of the American top flight can look forward to some exciting matchups, but the biggest storyline of the weekend is the potential return of the league’s biggest star.
Lionel Messi returned to Inter Miami training earlier in the week, and the Argentine legend could feature against Columbus Crew less than two weeks after playing in the World Cup Final.
All eyes will be on Messi and a new-look Inter Miami side that also added Manchester United’s Casemiro to the roster before the All-Star break. Miami have now won six straight and could move to the top of the table depending on Nashville SC’s result on Saturday. Nashville take on DC United as the league’s top side look to bounce back from a surprise 1-0 defeat to Orlando City last week, which snapped a five-match winning streak.
One of the day’s most compelling matchups comes in the early window as LAFC and the Vancouver Whitecaps meet in a heavyweight clash between two of the league’s best sides. The two teams are level on points at 33 and have posted similar statistical seasons. Vancouver enter as slight home favorites, with Heung-min Son and LAFC looking to extend their four-game winning run against the Canadian club.
Here are the top props for Saturday’s packed 14-game MLS slate. Be sure to check out out soccer betting trends page as well, for insights and data on every MLS match.
Saturday’s Best MLS Player Props
- Luis Suárez (Inter Miami) – Anytime Goalscorer (-115)
- Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City) – Over 1.5 Shots on Target (+120)
- Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte FC) – Over 4.5 Saves (+125)
- Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United) – Over 0.5 Goals + Assists (+220)
Luis Suárez (Inter Miami) – Anytime Goalscorer (-115)
Suárez held things together for Inter Miami while several key players were away on international duty. The Uruguayan forward now has nine goals on the season and has scored in each of his last three club appearances. He has two career goals against Columbus Crew, including one the last time these sides met in May of last year.
Columbus have struggled badly this season with just five wins heading into Saturday. They now face the league’s top-scoring side, who could have MLS’ leading goal contributor back in the lineup at home, where they have scored 19 goals this season. The chemistry between Messi and Suárez stretches back to their peak years at Barcelona, and with the league’s assists leader potentially on the pitch, Suárez could be fed several times in this one.
Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City) – Over 1.5 Shots on Target (+120)
Griezmann has completely changed the dynamic at Orlando City, who now look to win their third straight since the French star joined the squad. Despite failing to score in Orlando’s 1-0 win over Nashville last week, his quality was evident throughout his second MLS appearance. The former Atlético Madrid attacker now has five shots across two games, with just one finding the target.
As Griezmann continues to settle into the league, expect his output to increase. The 35-year-old has scored 14 or more goals in every season since 2015-16, and it is only a matter of time before he starts producing consistently for his new club. Look for him to keep shooting, with two of his attempts finding the target on Saturday evening.
Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte FC) – Over 4.5 Saves (+125)
Kahlina has been one of MLS’s top goalkeepers this season and will need another strong performance against Chicago FC on Saturday. The Robert Lewandowski-led attack enters as significant favorites over Charlotte despite dropping each of their last two games since acquiring the legendary Polish striker. Charlotte, meanwhile, have gone four games unbeaten, with Kahlina’s recent form a major factor in that run.
The 34-year-old is averaging 3.9 saves per game this season and is coming off a six-save effort in Charlotte’s 1-0 win over New York Red Bulls last week. He is stopping 73% of shots he faces and now takes on a Chicago side that averages nearly 15 shots per game. With Chicago expected to dominate possession, look for Kahlina and Charlotte’s defense to absorb a heavy volume of attempts throughout the match.
Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United) – Over 0.5 Goals + Assists (+220)
Fresh off a World Cup Round of 16 appearance last month, Almirón has returned to Atlanta United in fine form. The former Newcastle United winger has scored in back-to-back games despite his team’s recent struggles and will look to make it three straight matches with a goal involvement as Atlanta head to Pennsylvania to face the Philadelphia Union. The two clubs sit 29th and 30th in the table, having conceded 30 and 31 goals respectively.
Almirón should benefit from what is likely to be an open and scrappy contest, and he clearly still possesses plenty of quality at 32 years old. He ranks second at the club with five goal contributions in 10 starts this season and has been more aggressive than ever since returning from the World Cup, registering 14 shots across three games. With Philadelphia having been generous defensively this season, expect Almirón and Atlanta to find the net at least a couple of times in this bottom-of-the-table clash on Saturday.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
