You can read last week’s rankings here, and an explanation of our methodology here.

Below are the ratings as of August 27th, 2017 (last week’s ranking is in parentheses).

East Rankings

1 (1). Louisville City (1160)

Last Week: Won 5-0 vs Harrisburg on Wednesday, Lost 3-0 vs Orlando City B on Saturday.

2 (2). Charlotte Independence (1153)

Last Week: Lost 3-2 vs Toronto FC II on Saturday.

3 (3). Charleston Battery (1136)

Last Week: Lost 3-1 @ Richmond Kickers on Saturday.

4 (4). Tampa Bay Rowdies (1132)

Last Week: Bye Week

5 (5). Rochester Rhinos (1125)

Last Week: Won 2-1 vs Saint Louis FC on Saturday.

6 (6). Orlando City B (1120)

Last Week: Won 3-0 @ Louisville City on Saturday.

7 (9). Pittsburgh Riverhounds (1099)

Last Week: Won 3-2 vs Bethlehem on Saturday.

8 (10). FC Cincinnati (1094)

Last Week: Won 3-1 vs Ottawa on Wednesday.

9 (8). Bethlehem Steel FC (1093)

Last Week: Lost 3-2 @ Pittsburgh on Saturday.

10 (7). Ottawa Fury FC (1091)

Last Week: Lost 3-1 @ FC Cincinnati on Wednesday, Drew 2-2 vs New York Red Bulls II on Sunday.

11 (11). New York Red Bulls II (1080)

Last Week: Drew 2-2 @ Ottawa on Sunday.

12 (12). Saint Louis FC (1073)

Last Week: Won 2-1 vs Tulsa on Wednesday, Lost 2-1 @ Rochester on Saturday.

13 (14). Richmond Kickers (1057)

Last Week: Won 3-1 vs Charleston on Saturday.

14 (13). Harrisburg City Islanders (1049)

Last Week: Lost 5-0 @ Louisville on Wednesday.

15 (15). Toronto FC II (1038)

Last Week: Won 3-2 @ Charlotte on Saturday.

Week Twenty-Four Matches

Wednesday, August 30th

#15 Toronto FC II (1038) v #12 Saint Louis FC (1073)

Thursday, August 31st

#6 Orlando City B (1120) v #9 Bethlehem Steel FC (1093)

Saturday, September 2nd

#8 FC Cincinnati (1094) v #7 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (1099)

#11 New York Red Bulls II (1080) v #4 Tampa Bay Rowdies (1132)

#1 Louisville City FC (1160) v #3 Charleston Battery (1136)

#2 Charlotte Independence (1153) v #13 Richmond Kickers (1057)

#15 Toronto FC II (1038) v #5 Rochester Rhinos (1125)

Sunday, September 3rd

#10 Ottawa Fury FC (1091) v #12 Saint Louis FC (1073)

Thoughts

The story of the weekend was the losses suffered by the top three clubs. Louisville, Charlotte, and Charleston each lost to a side with a lower Elo rating this Saturday. Despite their defeats, the top three remains unchanged from last week, however, Tampa, Rochester and Orlando City B are all within striking distance.

Another big development of recent weeks has been the ever-increasing gap that has formed between the top six sides and the rest of the conference. From Orlando City B in sixth, to Pittsburgh in seventh, a total of 21 ratings points separate the two clubs. As this gap widens, it becomes more of a certainty that playoff spots in the Eastern Conference are becoming locked up.

While the top six may have broken away, the middle of the conference is as close as ever. Pittsburgh in seventh sits just eight rating points ahead of Ottawa in tenth, with FC Cincinnati and Bethlehem sandwiched between the two sides. As we approach the final weeks of the season, the last two spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs may come down to these four clubs.

What are your thoughts on this week’s rankings? As the race in the middle of the conference heats up, who do you think has the advantage? Who will finish the regular season at the top of the East? Let us know in the comments below!