LINEUPS: Pedro de la Vega makes his return to the starting lineup, while Alex Roldan makes a quicker-than-expected recovery from his hip injury to join him.

Neither the Seattle Sounders nor the Portland Timber come into tonight’s game playing particularly well. The Sounders haven’t won since claiming the Leagues Cup and are 0-2-2 in their last four, while the Timbers have just one win in their last eight.

Whoever triumphs, though, will set themselves up well heading into the playoffs. The Sounders would effectively solidify themselves into the No. 5 spot and the Timbers can clinch their postseason position with a win or a tie.

Both teams will enter the match a bit short-handed, though. The Sounders will be missing Yeimar Gomez Andrade (hamstring) and are still without Obed Vargas and Reed Baker-Whiting, who are on international duty. The Timbers’ injury list is even longer, with newly signed Designated Player Felipe Carballo and starting goalkeeper James Pantemis both out and several other potential contributors listed as questionable.

Notes

After their 1-1 tie earlier this year, the Sounders-Timbers MLS rivalry remains all even at 15-15-11.
This also marks the 50th year of their all-time rivalry, with the Sounders leading that series 57-47-19.
The Sounders have one more regular-season home game left on the schedule, as they’ll face Real Salt Lake next week in a match that was rescheduled due to the Leagues Cup final. They will raise their Leagues Cup championship banner before that game.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle

OUT: Paul Arriola - Knee; Reed Baker-Whiting - International Duty; Yeimar Gómez Andrade - Hamstring; Stuart Hawkins - Quad; Ryan Kent - Hamstring; Obed Vargas - International Duty

QUESTIONABLE: Alex Roldan - Hip