Starting XI: Too Hot to Handle

Starting XI, presented by StorageMart, 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 will put a three-game winning streak on the line Saturday when the club welcomes Minnesota United FC to Children’s Mercy Park. A limited number of tickets for the 7:30 p.m. matchup are available via SeatGeek.com, and the first 10,000 fans through the stadium gates will receive a camo bandana courtesy of match sponsor Pier Masters. The Western Conference clash will also air live on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus, FOX Sports Midwest Plus, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.

Manager Peter Vermes’ men have hit their stride during the month of August, rattling off three consecutive shutout victories to keep within touching distance of first-place FC Dallas, while the Loons are winless in four straight and have their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

2. Sporting Salutes

In conjunction with Saturday’s match, Sporting KC will host the second annual Sporting Salutes, an immersive military appreciation night recognizing the sacrifices of service personnel and their families across all branches of the United States Armed Forces. With approximately 140,000 military veterans living in the Kansas City metropolitan area, Sporting Salutes will give Sporting KC and its supporters the opportunity to express gratitude to those who have served the country. Headlining the initiative is a special pregame ceremony that will honor local veterans of World War II.

Fans will also be able to visit SportingStyle locations to purchase a variety of camo merchandise, including the limited-edition camo training tee and the scarf of the match. The Sporting Salutes camo training tee is available now for matchday preorder at SportingStyle.com.

3. Rubio Rolling

Anyone who watched Sporting KaC pick apart the Portland Timbers last Saturday knew immediately afterward that forward Diego Rubio would be a safe bet for MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week honors.

Sure enough, Rubio earned the weekly honor for his comprehensive two-goal performance in the 3-0 win at Children's Mercy Park. The Chilean produced two excellent finishes in the 28th and 37th minutes, created a pair of scoring chances and completed 87 percent of his passes as Sporting KC cruised to a third straight shutout victory.

4. Radio Rewind

Chances are you've seen the clip by now. In the aftermath of Sporting KC's win over the Portland Timbers on Saturday, forward Johnny Russell gifted his jersey to a 9-year-old birthday girl who had held up a sign for Russell all game long. The end result was a wonderfully touching moment caught on video, which quickly made its media rounds across the country.

That brings us to Tuesday's new episode of The Sporting KC Show, in which hosts Nate Bukaty and Carter Augustine spoke with the lucky fan, Irelynn White, and her mother, Andrea White. Click here to listen.

5. Rivalry Week

The fiercest rivalries in Major League Soccer will be showcased tonight through Sunday on ESPN, FS1 and UniMás as 2018 MLS Heineken Rivalry Week takes center stage. Sporting KC fans should keep an eye on tonight's matchup between Western Conference leaders FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo, set to kick off at 8 p.m. CT on Twitter and UniMas. FC Dallas is currently three points ahead of second-place Sporting KC, while the Dynamo have fallen 10 points out of playoff position and will be desperate for a victory.

6. Brilliant Blackwood

Swope Park Rangers forward Tyler Blackwood was named to the USL Team of the Week on Tuesday after playing a heroic role in Sunday's 3-3 thriller against Reno 1868 FC at rain-lashed Children's Mercy Park. Blackwood doubled his goal total for the season with a first-half brace, slotting home in the seventh and 29th minutes to give SPR a 2-1 lead at the break. Reno responded with a pair of unanswered goals to surge ahead 3-2, but Blackwood's deft assist to Hadji Barry in the 93rd minute rescued a point for the Rangers.

7. Dick Save and a Beauty

Swope Park Rangers goalkeeper Eric Dick is one of five finalists for the USL Fans' Choice Save of the Week award. Supporters can visit USLsoccer.com until 11 a.m. CT Friday to cast their vote. On loan from Sporting KC, the 23-year-old Dick dove low to turn aside Antoine Hoppenot's strike in the second half of Sunday's wild 3-3 draw with Reno 1868 FC at rain-soaked Children's Mercy Park.

8. Austin Arriving?

At a Wednesday night event in Austin, Texas, Precourt Sports Ventures (PSV) revealed the brand identity for Austin FC, a potential MLS club. The Austin FC badge features a green silhouette of two intertwining oak trees set against a black background with the name of the city prominently affixed at the top of the U-shaped badge. PSV, which currently operates Columbus Crew SC, is exploring options to bring an MLS club to Austin.

9. Derby Draw

Heineken MLS Rivalry Week got off to a heated start Wednesday night as nine-man New York City FC battled the New York Red Bulls to a 1-1 draw in the newest installment of the Hudson River Derby at Yankee Stadium. Bradley Wright-Phillips fired the Red Bulls ahead in the 37th minute before NYCFC debutant Eloi Amagat was sent off three minutes later. The hosts would not be deterred, however, and clawed level with a 52nd-minute strike from David Villa. Ebenezer Ofori received his marching orders in the late stages, reducing NYCFC to nine men, but the Sky Blues held on to split the points.

10. Toyota Tour

From 4-6 p.m. CT on Friday, Sporting KC fans of all ages are welcome to attend the next stop of the 2018 Toyota Tour at Olathe Toyota (685 N Rawhide Rd., Olathe, KS). Those in attendance will have the chance to win the ultimate matchday experience on Oct. 6 when Sporting KC faces the LA Galaxy, including four tickets to the game, a tour of Children's Mercy Park and postgame access to the UMB Field Club. Sporting KC will also give away four tickets to the Sept. 30 home game against Rivals Real Salt Lake.

11. Day of Giving

Scooter's Coffee will host a Day of Giving this week for The Victory Project, an initiative from Sporting KC that unites players, staff and fans to help children battling cancer. On Friday, Kansas City area Scooter’s Coffee locations will donate 20 percent of proceeds to the foundation to help further its mission.

Games to Watch (Aug. 23-26, 2018)