Defense vs position
MLS defense vs position
PickFinder Team•Updated:
For MLS defense vs position, Austin allows the most shots to forwards: 3.31 per 90, against a league average of 2.55. The forwards who faced Austin took 26% more shots than they do in their other matches.
Midfielders get the most shots against Charlotte (2.01 per 90) and defenders against DC United (0.75). Philadelphia Union is the hardest team for forwards to shoot against, at 1.81 per 90.
Based on every outfield player in 493 MLS matches in the 2026 season, Feb 21, 2026 to Nov 2, 2026.
- Austin: most shots per 90 to forwards
- 3.31
- Charlotte: most shots per 90 to midfielders
- 2.01
- DC United: most shots per 90 to defenders
- 0.75
- Philadelphia Union: fewest shots per 90 to forwards
- 1.81
MLS shots allowed by position
Green means opposing players did more of it, which helps an over. "vs own" compares those same players with their own rate in their other matches, so it strips out a schedule of strong or weak attackers.
 Austin | 33 | 3.31 | +26% | 1.76 | +27% | 0.68 | +21% |
 Orlando City SC | 33 | 3.19 | +20% | 1.82 | +30% | 0.72 | +27% |
 Sporting Kansas City | 32 | 3.09 | +20% | 1.59 | +14% | 0.65 | +8% |
 FC Cincinnati | 33 | 3.03 | +20% | 1.53 | +10% | 0.63 | +2% |
 LA Galaxy | 33 | 2.89 | +15% | 1.30 | -2% | 0.68 | +23% |
 Charlotte | 33 | 2.88 | +19% | 2.01 | +52% | 0.74 | +24% |
 New York Red Bulls | 33 | 2.82 | +7% | 1.35 | -1% | 0.46 | -20% |
 Portland Timbers | 33 | 2.74 | +6% | 1.55 | +16% | 0.65 | +15% |
 San Diego | 32 | 2.69 | +4% | 1.35 | +1% | 0.48 | -20% |
 New England Revolution | 33 | 2.67 | +2% | 1.43 | 0% | 0.69 | +17% |
 DC United | 33 | 2.64 | -3% | 1.41 | +7% | 0.75 | +34% |
 Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami | 33 | 2.62 | +1% | 1.49 | +9% | 0.44 | -29% |
 Club de Foot Montréal | 33 | 2.62 | +1% | 1.38 | -2% | 0.57 | -2% |
 Chicago Fire | 33 | 2.55 | -5% | 1.13 | -20% | 0.61 | -1% |
 San Jose Earthquakes | 33 | 2.51 | -2% | 1.28 | +1% | 0.51 | -9% |
 Seattle Sounders | 33 | 2.49 | -3% | 1.34 | +4% | 0.65 | +10% |
 Real Salt Lake | 33 | 2.48 | -5% | 1.33 | 0% | 0.61 | +9% |
 Columbus Crew | 33 | 2.44 | -3% | 1.08 | -18% | 0.49 | -15% |
 St. Louis City SC | 32 | 2.42 | -4% | 1.30 | +1% | 0.58 | +6% |
 Houston Dynamo | 33 | 2.39 | -3% | 1.30 | -1% | 0.53 | -8% |
 Atlanta United | 33 | 2.37 | -5% | 1.06 | -19% | 0.61 | +8% |
 Minnesota United | 33 | 2.37 | -6% | 1.30 | +2% | 0.52 | -3% |
 Toronto | 33 | 2.36 | -11% | 1.31 | +1% | 0.71 | +28% |
 Nashville SC | 33 | 2.34 | -8% | 0.95 | -27% | 0.43 | -30% |
 Colorado Rapids | 33 | 2.32 | -9% | 1.11 | -14% | 0.51 | -4% |
 FC Dallas | 32 | 2.26 | -9% | 1.22 | -9% | 0.58 | -3% |
 New York City Football Club | 33 | 2.25 | -16% | 1.42 | +1% | 0.49 | -17% |
 Los Angeles | 33 | 2.21 | -14% | 1.44 | +8% | 0.52 | -9% |
 Vancouver Whitecaps | 33 | 1.92 | -23% | 0.96 | -26% | 0.46 | -16% |
 Philadelphia Union | 33 | 1.81 | -28% | 0.94 | -29% | 0.43 | -28% |
What MLS defenses allow to forwards
League average per forward per 90: 2.55 shots, 1.06 on target, 0.98 tackles, 1.29 fouls, 1.46 fouls drawn, 26.0 pass attempts.
| Austin | 3.31 | +26% | 1.39 | +26% | 1.06 | +15% | 1.31 | 1.23 | 24.4 |
| Orlando City SC | 3.19 | +20% | 1.33 | +23% | 0.92 | +2% | 1.60 | 1.36 | 25.0 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 3.09 | +20% | 1.42 | +32% | 0.98 | -2% | 1.02 | 1.56 | 28.8 |
| FC Cincinnati | 3.03 | +20% | 1.22 | +17% | 1.12 | +11% | 0.93 | 1.28 | 28.1 |
| LA Galaxy | 2.89 | +15% | 1.21 | +11% | 1.14 | +12% | 1.42 | 1.29 | 28.5 |
| Charlotte | 2.88 | +19% | 1.07 | +9% | 0.83 | -11% | 1.24 | 0.97 | 28.1 |
| New York Red Bulls | 2.82 | +7% | 1.34 | +18% | 1.35 | +35% | 1.07 | 1.51 | 24.2 |
| Portland Timbers | 2.74 | +6% | 1.21 | +10% | 0.84 | -19% | 1.22 | 1.63 | 27.0 |
| San Diego | 2.69 | +4% | 1.30 | +20% | 0.96 | -4% | 1.70 | 1.43 | 25.0 |
| New England Revolution | 2.67 | +2% | 1.17 | +11% | 1.02 | +13% | 1.51 | 1.26 | 25.6 |
| DC United | 2.64 | -3% | 1.14 | 0% | 0.84 | -12% | 1.26 | 1.47 | 27.4 |
| Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami | 2.62 | +1% | 0.87 | -16% | 1.11 | +15% | 1.44 | 1.57 | 24.7 |
| Club de Foot Montréal | 2.62 | +1% | 1.09 | +1% | 0.90 | -4% | 1.22 | 1.75 | 25.9 |
| Chicago Fire | 2.55 | -5% | 1.07 | -6% | 0.83 | -10% | 0.96 | 1.49 | 24.9 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2.51 | -2% | 1.16 | +9% | 0.96 | -1% | 1.36 | 1.33 | 27.4 |
| Seattle Sounders | 2.49 | -3% | 1.08 | +3% | 0.90 | -16% | 1.17 | 1.37 | 28.2 |
| Real Salt Lake | 2.48 | -5% | 0.89 | -18% | 0.70 | -32% | 1.18 | 1.36 | 26.7 |
| Columbus Crew | 2.44 | -3% | 1.10 | +9% | 1.15 | +17% | 1.09 | 1.39 | 25.7 |
| St. Louis City SC | 2.42 | -4% | 0.93 | -15% | 0.89 | -1% | 1.40 | 1.79 | 27.0 |
| Houston Dynamo | 2.39 | -3% | 0.88 | -15% | 0.89 | -18% | 1.39 | 1.50 | 24.9 |
| Atlanta United | 2.37 | -5% | 0.83 | -23% | 0.81 | -16% | 1.04 | 1.62 | 25.5 |
| Minnesota United | 2.37 | -6% | 1.05 | -3% | 1.06 | +8% | 1.22 | 1.48 | 29.3 |
| Toronto | 2.36 | -11% | 1.05 | -6% | 0.86 | -18% | 1.56 | 1.28 | 25.8 |
| Nashville SC | 2.34 | -8% | 0.82 | -21% | 0.96 | -1% | 1.04 | 1.39 | 23.9 |
| Colorado Rapids | 2.32 | -9% | 0.86 | -17% | 0.93 | +4% | 1.38 | 1.59 | 19.3 |
| FC Dallas | 2.26 | -9% | 0.96 | -7% | 1.01 | +2% | 1.47 | 1.72 | 28.6 |
| New York City Football Club | 2.25 | -16% | 0.98 | -9% | 0.89 | -9% | 1.19 | 1.24 | 23.6 |
| Los Angeles | 2.21 | -14% | 0.74 | -31% | 1.27 | +31% | 1.25 | 1.33 | 30.2 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 1.92 | -23% | 0.87 | -17% | 1.20 | +21% | 1.45 | 1.80 | 22.7 |
| Philadelphia Union | 1.81 | -28% | 0.87 | -18% | 1.07 | +3% | 1.49 | 1.76 | 23.4 |
What MLS defenses allow to midfielders
League average per midfielder per 90: 1.35 shots, 0.48 on target, 1.68 tackles, 1.27 fouls, 1.24 fouls drawn, 47.2 pass attempts.
| Charlotte | 2.01 | +52% | 0.76 | +60% | 1.66 | 0% | 1.15 | 0.99 | 49.9 |
| Orlando City SC | 1.82 | +30% | 0.63 | +23% | 1.79 | +4% | 1.36 | 1.17 | 45.5 |
| Austin | 1.76 | +27% | 0.63 | +32% | 1.32 | -22% | 1.39 | 1.03 | 47.3 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 1.59 | +14% | 0.54 | +15% | 1.58 | -6% | 1.21 | 1.34 | 50.9 |
| Portland Timbers | 1.55 | +16% | 0.57 | +27% | 1.84 | +12% | 1.42 | 0.83 | 49.5 |
| FC Cincinnati | 1.53 | +10% | 0.55 | +8% | 1.89 | +14% | 1.28 | 1.17 | 46.0 |
| Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami | 1.49 | +9% | 0.57 | +13% | 1.68 | -1% | 1.27 | 1.49 | 45.8 |
| Los Angeles | 1.44 | +8% | 0.44 | -3% | 1.76 | +5% | 1.24 | 1.11 | 59.7 |
| New England Revolution | 1.43 | 0% | 0.56 | +10% | 1.42 | -11% | 1.45 | 1.00 | 47.6 |
| New York City Football Club | 1.42 | +1% | 0.51 | 0% | 1.53 | -9% | 1.58 | 1.24 | 43.1 |
| DC United | 1.41 | +7% | 0.52 | +12% | 1.48 | -11% | 1.26 | 1.43 | 54.7 |
| Club de Foot Montréal | 1.38 | -2% | 0.49 | -8% | 1.63 | -6% | 1.39 | 1.26 | 49.4 |
| New York Red Bulls | 1.35 | -1% | 0.50 | +1% | 2.01 | +24% | 1.13 | 1.40 | 43.3 |
| San Diego | 1.35 | +1% | 0.50 | +15% | 1.66 | -2% | 1.51 | 1.21 | 42.0 |
| Seattle Sounders | 1.34 | +4% | 0.44 | -3% | 1.61 | -5% | 1.03 | 0.97 | 47.0 |
| Real Salt Lake | 1.33 | 0% | 0.48 | +10% | 1.44 | -13% | 1.20 | 1.25 | 50.6 |
| Toronto | 1.31 | +1% | 0.47 | -1% | 1.44 | -17% | 1.36 | 1.27 | 45.8 |
| LA Galaxy | 1.30 | -2% | 0.43 | -4% | 1.64 | +1% | 1.22 | 1.10 | 50.9 |
| St. Louis City SC | 1.30 | +1% | 0.37 | -13% | 1.54 | -10% | 1.25 | 1.33 | 45.9 |
| Houston Dynamo | 1.30 | -1% | 0.38 | -14% | 1.79 | +5% | 1.40 | 0.98 | 52.7 |
| Minnesota United | 1.30 | +2% | 0.47 | +9% | 1.89 | +9% | 1.21 | 1.37 | 52.4 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 1.28 | +1% | 0.45 | +4% | 1.85 | +13% | 1.31 | 1.17 | 46.3 |
| FC Dallas | 1.22 | -9% | 0.48 | +5% | 1.65 | -5% | 0.99 | 1.45 | 52.9 |
| Chicago Fire | 1.13 | -20% | 0.36 | -30% | 1.85 | +10% | 1.17 | 1.43 | 41.2 |
| Colorado Rapids | 1.11 | -14% | 0.44 | +1% | 2.00 | +15% | 1.53 | 1.64 | 38.7 |
| Columbus Crew | 1.08 | -18% | 0.43 | -11% | 2.13 | +33% | 1.16 | 1.11 | 45.2 |
| Atlanta United | 1.06 | -19% | 0.39 | -19% | 1.37 | -20% | 1.16 | 1.09 | 46.6 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 0.96 | -26% | 0.26 | -43% | 1.75 | +5% | 1.21 | 1.60 | 43.0 |
| Nashville SC | 0.95 | -27% | 0.27 | -43% | 1.61 | -5% | 1.10 | 1.16 | 40.8 |
| Philadelphia Union | 0.94 | -29% | 0.33 | -30% | 1.65 | -1% | 1.28 | 1.56 | 41.5 |
What MLS defenses allow to defenders
League average per defender per 90: 0.58 shots, 0.16 on target, 1.60 tackles, 1.06 fouls, 0.82 fouls drawn, 51.0 pass attempts.
| DC United | 0.75 | +34% | 0.16 | -1% | 1.40 | -11% | 0.81 | 0.97 | 62.0 |
| Charlotte | 0.74 | +24% | 0.20 | +12% | 1.65 | +4% | 1.13 | 0.83 | 59.7 |
| Orlando City SC | 0.72 | +27% | 0.25 | +72% | 1.57 | -1% | 1.12 | 0.69 | 50.2 |
| Toronto | 0.71 | +28% | 0.26 | +76% | 1.71 | +8% | 1.06 | 0.63 | 52.0 |
| New England Revolution | 0.69 | +17% | 0.24 | +57% | 1.71 | +5% | 1.01 | 0.67 | 52.4 |
| Austin | 0.68 | +21% | 0.19 | +19% | 1.49 | -11% | 1.10 | 0.75 | 52.5 |
| LA Galaxy | 0.68 | +23% | 0.16 | -1% | 1.46 | -7% | 1.24 | 0.70 | 54.2 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 0.65 | +8% | 0.19 | +15% | 1.50 | -8% | 1.12 | 0.86 | 59.6 |
| Portland Timbers | 0.65 | +15% | 0.19 | +18% | 1.71 | +7% | 1.30 | 0.67 | 51.9 |
| Seattle Sounders | 0.65 | +10% | 0.17 | -3% | 1.48 | -5% | 0.75 | 0.80 | 51.0 |
| FC Cincinnati | 0.63 | +2% | 0.17 | 0% | 1.75 | +14% | 0.99 | 0.83 | 46.2 |
| Chicago Fire | 0.61 | -1% | 0.18 | +3% | 1.73 | +12% | 1.03 | 0.82 | 49.9 |
| Real Salt Lake | 0.61 | +9% | 0.09 | -45% | 1.49 | -8% | 1.05 | 0.93 | 50.6 |
| Atlanta United | 0.61 | +8% | 0.18 | +7% | 1.43 | -13% | 0.84 | 0.71 | 51.4 |
| St. Louis City SC | 0.58 | +6% | 0.16 | +7% | 1.61 | 0% | 1.12 | 1.14 | 47.4 |
| FC Dallas | 0.58 | -3% | 0.20 | +24% | 1.48 | -7% | 0.84 | 0.84 | 56.7 |
| Club de Foot Montréal | 0.57 | -2% | 0.14 | -9% | 1.71 | +5% | 1.00 | 0.89 | 50.3 |
| Houston Dynamo | 0.53 | -8% | 0.13 | -16% | 1.62 | +5% | 1.22 | 0.60 | 58.5 |
| Minnesota United | 0.52 | -3% | 0.15 | 0% | 1.97 | +28% | 1.07 | 0.84 | 55.2 |
| Los Angeles | 0.52 | -9% | 0.15 | -10% | 1.59 | -2% | 0.91 | 0.70 | 59.9 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 0.51 | -9% | 0.14 | -15% | 1.71 | +4% | 1.37 | 1.08 | 45.7 |
| Colorado Rapids | 0.51 | -4% | 0.12 | -20% | 1.90 | +19% | 1.30 | 0.91 | 43.7 |
| Columbus Crew | 0.49 | -15% | 0.14 | -17% | 1.82 | +13% | 1.08 | 0.71 | 47.4 |
| New York City Football Club | 0.49 | -17% | 0.16 | +1% | 1.87 | +16% | 1.24 | 0.91 | 48.0 |
| San Diego | 0.48 | -20% | 0.10 | -41% | 1.40 | -9% | 1.01 | 0.59 | 46.7 |
| New York Red Bulls | 0.46 | -20% | 0.14 | -13% | 1.79 | +12% | 0.85 | 0.77 | 45.6 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 0.46 | -16% | 0.16 | +3% | 1.73 | +6% | 1.26 | 0.85 | 44.9 |
| Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami | 0.44 | -29% | 0.10 | -43% | 1.10 | -30% | 0.99 | 0.79 | 40.6 |
| Nashville SC | 0.43 | -30% | 0.14 | -20% | 1.44 | -12% | 0.97 | 0.83 | 46.5 |
| Philadelphia Union | 0.43 | -28% | 0.12 | -31% | 1.26 | -22% | 0.92 | 1.12 | 50.8 |
Using defense vs position on a prop
Start with the position
For a forward's shots prop against Austin, the forwards table shows 3.31 shots per 90 allowed. The MLS average is 2.55.
Check the vs own column
Austin shows +26%: those forwards shot that much more against Austin than in their other matches. A high raw number with a small vs own number is usually a schedule full of strong forwards.
Scale it to the player
A forward at the league average of 2.55 per 90 who plays 75 minutes works out to about 2.7 shots at that rate. For a tackles prop, read that column the same way: midfielders make 2.13 per 90 against Columbus Crew, against an average of 1.68.
Check today's line
This table looks back. Today's MLS line and the player's hit rate against it are in PickFinder, next to these defense numbers.
How this is counted
Counts every forward, midfielder and defender row in 493 MLS matches in the 2026 season, Feb 21, 2026 to Nov 2, 2026, grouped by the team they played against. Per 90 is the group's total divided by its minutes, times 90, so it's a rate per player and a substitute's 20 minutes counts as 20 minutes. "vs own" compares the total with what those same players do at their own per 90 rate in their other MLS matches, using the league's position average for anyone with under 180 other minutes. Positions come from OpticOdds; goalkeepers are left out. Teams need 3 or more matches. Cup games are excluded. Only matches with full Opta coverage in OpticOdds are counted, so a match with missing stats never reads as zeros.
Defense vs position FAQ
Which MLS team allows the most shots to forwards?
Austin, at 3.31 shots per 90 and 1.39 on target. The league average is 2.55 shots and 1.06 on target.
Which MLS team is hardest to shoot against?
For forwards, Philadelphia Union, at 1.81 shots per 90 and 0.87 on target.
Which team do MLS midfielders make the most tackles against?
Columbus Crew, at 2.13 tackles per 90 against a league average of 1.68.
Which team fouls forwards the most?
Vancouver Whitecaps: forwards draw 1.80 fouls per 90 against them, against a league average of 1.46.
What does "vs own" mean?
It compares what players did against a team with what the same players do in their other matches. Austin's +26% means forwards took that much more than usual against Austin, whoever those forwards were.
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