The Philadelphia Union do not leave the I-95 corridor until October 9.
For the next month-and-a-half, the Union need to use their abundance of home games and short road trips to create some type of separation in the race for second place in the Eastern Conference.
The push up to second place and a home playoff game starts on Wednesday versus New York City FC. Coverage on The Gambler begins at 7 p.m. ET with the Union Pregame Show presented by DraftKings Sportsbook with Sean Brace and Joe Tansey.
JP Dellacamera and Danny Higginbotham will be on the game call at 7:30 p.m. ET. Kevin Kinkead joins Brace and Tansey for the Union Postgame Show after the final whistle.
Philadelphia comes into Wednesday's match at Subaru Park three points back of second-place NYCFC, who enters on a six-game unbeaten streak.
NYCFC conceded on three occasions during that six-game run. The Pigeons currently have the best defensive mark in the Eastern Conference with 18 goals allowed. The Union are second to Ronny Deila's side in the East with 19 goals allowed.
There is a big difference in goals scored between the two sides. NYCFC is second to the New England Revolution with 34 goals scored. The Union rank seventh in the East with 25 goals scored.
The good news for the Union is they will have a full complement of players available for Wednesday night's match. That is most significant in attack. Kacper Przybylko, Sergio Santos, Cory Burke and Matheus Davo will all be available for selection. Davo traveled with the team to Mexico last week, but he was not in the matchday squad for the first leg against Club America. The new addition may see some time in the upcoming games as he gets further acclimated within the squad.
For the first time this season, the injury report is empty. Anthony Fontana and Matt Real have recovered from injuries. Jack De Vries is off the list, but there are reports that he may be on the way out for a loan at Serie A side Venezia.
Jesus Bueno is the only Union player not available for selection. He has not cleared the visa process upon his arrival from Venezuela.
Even though the Union are fully fit, they are in a position they rarely are in at Subaru Park. They are listed as the home underdog against NYCFC. NYCFC sits at +155 on the money line. The Union are +170 and a draw pays out at +260.
With a win, the Union would move level on points with NYCFC. Nashville SC and Orlando City, who are third and fourth in the East, play each other on Wednesday night. That presents the Union with an ideal scenario to make a move up from fifth.