With Robbie Keane leading the way, the Los Angeles Galaxy have been MLS' hottest club in the past two months.
The San Jose Earthquakes are also streaking, and they'll seek a team record-tying fourth consecutive shutout in the first of four straight home games Friday night.
Los Angeles blew out New York City FC 5-1 on Sunday for its fourth consecutive win and sixth in seven games. Keane provided two goals and two assists, giving him 12 goals and three assists in the 6-1-0 stretch.
"We know we have the players that are capable of continuing to do this," said the forward, whose 15 goals are tied for third in the league. "If we don't concede too many goals, we're going to be a hard team to beat because we've got quality in this side. We've got players who can score goals."
The Galaxy (13-7-7) have used their league-best 49 goals to keep them one point ahead of Vancouver in the Western Conference and Supporters' Shield races. Keane had three in a 5-2 victory against visiting San Jose on July 17, though the Earthquakes (10-10-5) have proved a different team this month.
San Jose was outscored 11-3 while losing all four games in July but is 3-1-1 this month with four shutouts. The Earthquakes have outscored their past three opponents 8-0 after winning 2-0 at D.C. on Saturday.
Chris Wondolowski scored his third goal in two games and 12th this season to help put his club on the verge of jumping into playoff position. The Earthquakes are tied with Seattle for the sixth and final spot, but the Sounders have one more victory.
"We have always had confidence that we are able to play with anyone," midfielder Fatai Alashe told the team's official website. "Some of the results were not really going our way for a while, but we are showing that we stick to it and stay positive with each other. Now we are starting to turn things around and, hopefully, we keep that momentum going."
San Jose trails fifth-place FC Dallas by three points and will try to move into a tie for that spot while chasing a piece of franchise history. The Earthquakes have logged four consecutive shutouts twice, most recently May 1-22, 2010.
David Bingham kept Los Angeles off the scoreboard in the final 73 minutes in a 3-1 comeback victory June 27, a game played at Stanford Stadium, and Wondolowski's 28th-minute goal started the rally.
Los Angeles won 1-0 at the Earthquakes' new home, Avaya Stadium, on July 1 in the U.S. Open Cup. San Jose will play seven of its final nine games there.
The Galaxy are 2-10-6 in their last 18 regular-season road games in the series but have won in three of the past six across all competitions.
Los Angeles' Todd Dunivant is questionable for this game because of a foot injury. The defender announced he would retire at the end of this season Wednesday.
