Starting XI: Revs Reckoning

Starting XI, presented by Ford, is a biweekly series on SportingKC.com that highlights 11 of the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City, MLS and soccer around the globe. Click here to visit the Starting XI archive.

Sporting Kansas City (10-6-11, 41 points) will kick off a four-game homestand Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT against the New England Revolution (10-13-5, 35 points). FOX Sports Kansas City and FOX Sports Midwest will air three hours of live coverage at Children's Mercy Park beginning at 7 p.m. CT, while Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish) will provide local radio calls. In addition, The Final Whistle postgame show will air immediately after the match on 810 WHB.

Tickets for Saturday's matchup are available at SeatGeek.com, and the first 5,000 fans through the stadium gates will receive a free Sporting KC wall decal courtesy of match sponsor US Bank. Sporting Kansas City is currently riding a club-record 22-game home unbeaten streak in the MLS regular season, tied for the fourth longest run in MLS history. The Revolution, meanwhile, boast a trio of former Sporting KC attacking players in Teal Bunbury, Kei Kamara and Krisztian Nemeth.

2. Lindsey Inks Homegrown Deal

Sporting KC has signed 17-year-old Jaylin Lindsey as a Homegrown Player, the club announced Thursday. He will be added to the Sporting KC roster when his MLS contract begins on Jan. 1, 2018. A product of the Sporting KC Academy, Lindsey becomes the third-youngest signing in club history. The defender has featured for the Sporting KC U-16s and U-18s and made more than 25 appearances for the United States U-17 Men’s National Team over the last two years.

3. Six More Days

Sporting KC will look to write another glorious chapter in club history on Wednesday when the New York Red Bulls visit Children’s Mercy Park for the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, slated for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. In our 21-day Countdown to Cup, SportingKC.com is highlighting the most relevant storylines, historical narratives and statistical trends surrounding the Open Cup Final, U.S. Soccer’s National Championship. Today’s installment of the daily countdown examines what winning the Open Cup would mean for both finalists. Standing-room only tickets for the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final between Sporting Kansas City and the New York Red Bulls are on sale to the public at SeatGeek.com.

4. Rally with SKC Nation

All Sporting KC supporters are invited to attend the U.S. Open Cup Fan Rally on Tuesday at the Kansas City Live! Block in the Power & Light District. The U.S. Open Cup Fan Rally is free and open to all fans, with festivities set to begin at 6:30 p.m. CT. Supporters who RSVP to the event at SportingKC.com/rsvp will be entered to win an exclusive prize package.

Tuesday’s rally will take place on the eve of the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final between Sporting Kansas City and the New York Red Bulls, with hosts Hartzell Gray, Nate Bukaty and Jillian Carroll emceeing the event on the KC Live! Block stage. he rally will kick off with a variety of fan games and prize giveaways before a hype video and message from Sporting KC players runs on the KC Live! Block video screen. Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes and President Jake Reid will address fans in attendance to round out a momentous night in the Power & Light District.

5. Whitecaps Take First, Revs Ransacked

Vancouver Whitecaps FC soared into first place in the Western Conference with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Minnesota United FC on Wednesday at BC Place. Goals from Yordy Reina, Erik Hurtado and Brek Shea lifted Vancouver three points ahead of fourth-place Sporting KC and level with the Portland Timbers at the summit.

In Wednesday’s other MLS matchup, Atlanta United FC set multiple records in a jaw-dropping 7-0 demolition of the Revolution, Sporting KC’s opponents on Saturday. The rout matched the all-time league record for largest winning margin in a game, while New England became the first team ever to finish an MLS match with zero shot attempts.

6. Green Carded

Forward Diego Rubio has obtained his U.S. green card and no longer takes up an international spot on Sporting KC’s roster, the club announced Tuesday. Sporting KC now has seven international players on its roster: Latif Blessing, Cristian Lobato, James Musa, Soni Mustivar, Tyler Pasher, Daniel Salloi and Ilie. The club has one open international slot ahead of Major League Soccer’s roster freeze tomorrow.

The MLS roster freeze date requires all teams to submit a final 30-man roster for the remainder of 2017. Per MLS rules, no changes can be made to a club's roster during the period beginning tomorrow through the day after 2017 MLS Cup, which is scheduled for Dec. 9.

7. Rangers’ Race

Currently occupying fourth place in the USL’s Western Conference, the Swope Park Rangers (13-7-6, 45 points) will return to Swope Soccer Village this Sunday for a pivotal 4 p.m. CT showdown with third-place San Antonio FC (13-2-10, 49 points) at Children's Mercy Victory Field. Tickets for the game are on sale at SeatGeek.com or at the venue box office on matchday, while a live stream will be available on SportingKC.com.

8. Back in Session

The Sporting Kansas City Academy will kick off the 2017-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season on Saturday with a tripleheader against FC Dallas at the University of Tulsa. The U-15s will kick off a full day of action at noon CT, followed by the U-17s at 2:30 p.m. and the U-19s and 5 p.m. Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter and Instagram for updates on Saturday and throughout the Development Academy season.

9. Man in the Middle

Head referee Hilario Grajeda will officiate the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) has announced. An MLS referee since 2004, Grajeda notably officiated the 2013 MLS Cup at Children’s Mercy Park, which resulted in Sporting KC defeating Real Salt Lake in a 10-round penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw through regulation.

Grajeda will be joined next Wednesday by assistant referees Jason White and Andrew Bigelow as well as fourth official Ismail Elfath. Grajeda has landed center assignments in more than 150 matches during his 13-year MLS stint, earning Referee of the Year honors in 2013.

10. Radio Rewind

Two members of the Sporting KC organization appeared on Sports Radio 810 WHB this week as the club enters a period of four straight games at Children’s Mercy Park. To preview the busy stretch ahead, Sporting KC assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin joined Nate Bukaty and Carter Augustine on Tuesday’s episode of the Sporting KC Radio Show. The following morning, captain Matt Besler spoke with Bukaty and Steven St. John on The Border Patrol, discussing his recent trip to Honduras with the U.S. Men's National Team, Sporting KC's current position in the MLS table and Alexi Lalas' candid comments on the U.S. MNT.

11. College Kicks

On a weekly basis, SportingKC.com showcases Sporting KC Academy players who have featured for their respective schools at the collegiate level. Among the current pool of college competitors, the previous week of action saw Saint Louis University freshman midfielder Patrick Wilkinson take home Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week honors.

Games to Watch (Sept. 15-17)