Who should start for the Houston Dynamo against Orlando City SC?

The Houston Dynamo are coming off their first win in 10 games as they topped the Portland Timbers 4-1 at BBVA Compass Stadium last Saturday. Now they’re on the road where they’ll face the bottom team in the Eastern Conference, Orlando City SC. The Dynamo have not fared well on the road this season and have only notched a single victory away from the Bayou City. Last week’s match against the Timbers could have been considered a tune-up game ahead of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final. With the Final coming this next Wednesday Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera could use this as an opportunity to rest his starters against Orlando.

Assuming that Wilmer Cabrera uses my advice and rests his starters, I think up top we’ll see Memo Rodríguez in Romell Quioto’s left wing spot. At the center forward position Ronaldo Peña should be slated to fill in for Mauro Manotas. Peña should get the start no matter what in my view as at least one of our attacking trio of Quioto, Manotas, and Alberth Elis should be rested ahead of Wednesday’s USOC clash. In place of Elis on the right side, I’d start Arturo Álvarez. I’d prefer to start Andrew Wenger here because A.J. DeLaGarza appears to be healthy again, but I’d want Wenger available to play RB so I’m going with Álvarez.

In the midfield I’m going with Luis Gil in Tomás Martínez’s central attacking role. Gil has struggled this season, especially in front of goal, but we don’t have too many other options so maybe he’s due for a good game. Behind him I’d start Darwin Cerén and Eric Bird. The two pairing together would be good from a defensive angle and could also allow Bird to develop more going forward the same way that Oscar Boniek García does.

Defensively Cabrera has some options to work with. I’m going to assume that DaMarcus Beasley starts in the US Open Cup so I’d peg Adam Lundqvist to fill in at left back. In central defense I would start Leonardo and Adolfo Machado to keep Alejandro Fuenmayor and Philippe Senderos fresh. At right back I’m going to start Kevin Garcia. We could see A.J. DeLaGarza get minutes here which could let Wilmer Cabrera evaluate AJ’s progress up close, but I’m probably not starting him. In goal I’d hand the gloves over to Chris Seitz.

Injury Report

OUT: D - A.J. DeLaGarza (torn left ACL)**

OUT: D - Dylan Remick (concussion)*

OUT: F – Mac Steeves (left hip injury)

*Remick does not appear on the Injury Report, but is out for the season.

**DeLaGarza has played with Rio Grande Valley FC Toros recently, but still appears on the injury report.

My Projected Starting Lineup

There are a ton of options to work with. I deliberately went out of the way with my picks to rest every available starter possible, but who do you think should start against Orlando City SC? Let us know below.