Columbus Crew vs Nashville Sc Picks and Predictions May 28th 2025

Crew Host Nashville SC Without Injured Keeper Patrick Schulte

The Columbus Crew will have their depth tested on Wednesday when they face a red-hot Nashville SC squad without their starting goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, who is sidelined with an oblique injury.

Columbus (7-2-6, 27 points) finds itself in a four-game winless stretch and now must navigate a critical matchup without one of its key defensive leaders. Schulte, recently named to the U.S. national team’s June roster, was injured during pre-match warmups in Charlotte. Backup Nicholas Hagen stepped in and made eight saves in the 3-2 loss, but the Crew’s vulnerabilities on the counterattack were evident.

“I think that’s a consequence of pushing the game and trying to be on the front foot all the time, which is positive, which is why we’ve been a successful team,” said Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe.

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Nashville Riding Momentum — and Depth

Nashville SC (8-4-3, 27 points) has been on a tear, unbeaten in their last six MLS matches (4-0-2). The club’s defense — one of the league’s best during that stretch — has allowed just six goals over those six games.

They got even stronger over the weekend with the return of captain Walker Zimmerman, who logged 17 minutes in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Toronto FC after recovering from a concussion suffered in April. His presence, even in limited minutes, is a massive lift for the locker room and the pitch alike.

“He’s your team captain so it’s an uplift for everybody,” said Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan. “His leadership has always been there, but yeah, when he steps back on the field the group gets a lift.”

Whether Zimmerman will start against Columbus remains uncertain, with Callaghan noting that Nashville’s current backline has been performing admirably in his absence. The decision may come down to recovery time and match readiness.

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Meanwhile, the Crew may regain 2024 MLS Defender of the Year Steven Moreira, who exited the Charlotte game early with a foot issue but is expected to be available.

This showdown is pivotal not only for positioning in the standings but also for those looking to follow MLS Picks and Betting Trends as the summer campaign heats up.

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