MLS XG Etc.

By Anonymous (not verified), March 12, 2025

For Immediate Release
MLS Communications

Expected Goals: Upcoming Milestones for Matchday 4

Can Anyone Slow Tai Baribo?

Philadelphia Union striker Tai Baribo showed he could score in batches when he was the top scorer of Leagues Cup 2024 last year and is riding that wave of success to a scorching start to 2025. Baribo has more goals than two-thirds of the teams in MLS with six in the opening three games of the season.

The Israeli international is already tied with Ante Razov (six in 1999) for the most goals through the first three matches of a season in MLS history and now has his sights set on Edson Buddle (seven in 2010) for the most through four matches. Baribo will look to continue making history on Sunday when the Union aim to extend their perfect start to the season against Nashville SC in a matinee match at Subaru Park (2:25 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+ / FOX / FOX Deportes).

The most goals through the first four games of a season in MLS history:

Bürki the Backbone of St. Louis Brick Wall

In Olof Mellberg’s first season in charge of St. Louis CITY SC, the former Swedish National Team defender has consistently emphasized something he knows well – strong defense. Fortunately for Mellberg and St. Louis, they have one of the best goalkeepers in the league in Roman Bürki , who has made nine saves en route to three-straight shutouts to start the season. His most recent standout performance featured a blanking of an LA Galaxy team that accumulated 1.88 xG (expected goals) on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire last week.

For St. Louis, they can join illustrious company – the 2012 Vancouver Whitecaps FC and 2007 New York Red Bulls – as the only clubs to start the season with four consecutive clean sheets. To do so, they’ll have to limit the high-scoring Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday evening at Energizer Park (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

The longest shutout streaks by a club to begin a season in MLS history:

Ironman Espinoza Climbing Up All-Time Leaderboard

San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Cristian Espinoza has been one of the most consistent players in MLS since entering the league in 2019, tallying 32 goals and 73 assists. For the Argentine, that consistency has also stretched past just goals and assist but to a remarkable ability to be available. Since 2021, Espinoza has appeared in 112 consecutive games and if he plays this weekend, he will tie David Ousted (113) for the third-longest streak in MLS history.

Of the top three longest streaks in MLS history, the only outfielder on that list is Chris Klein, who appeared in 141 consecutive matches from 2005-09. After falling at home on Matchday 3, Espinoza and the ‘Quakes can get back on track when they host the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

The most consecutive appearances by a player in MLS history:

San Diego Riding the Expansion Wave

It’s only been three matches into their life as an MLS club, but San Diego FC has already proved themselves with an unbeaten 2-0-1 start. The new expansion club has been especially impressive on the road with wins against the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake – two teams that finished in the top three of the Western Conference last year.

On Matchday 4, San Diego will return to Snapdragon Stadium with more expansion club history hanging in the balance. If the home side secures a result against the Columbus Crew (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), they would join St. Louis CITY SC (5-0-0 in 2023) as the only expansion clubs in MLS history to go unbeaten through their first four games of a season.

The longest opening unbeaten streaks by an expansion club in MLS history:

Daniel, Bürki, and Dos Santos Highlight Top Goalkeepers Through MD3

One of the best ways to identify top goalkeeper play in MLS is through goalkeeper efficiency, which evaluates the number of saves vs. the expected saves in a given match. The more positive the discrepancy is, the better shot-stopping the goalkeeper has displayed during the course of the season.

Through the first three matchdays of the 2025 season, three goalkeepers have above a plus-2.0 efficiency – Daniel (+2.3, San Jose Earthquakes), Roman Bürki (+2.2, St. Louis CITY SC), and CJ Dos Santos (+2.0, San Diego FC). The ‘Quakes Daniel has shown that, when healthy, he can be one of the best shot-stoppers in MLS and is continuing that trend in 2025. A new name to some might be San Diego’s CJ Dos Santos, who is starting consistently in MLS for the first time in his career and has been a standout in the expansion club’s strong start.

The best goalkeeper efficiencies in MLS in 2025 (per Sportec Solutions):