Sounders update: Seattle vs. Chivas USA

Today’s game
Opponent: Chivas USA
When: 1 p.m.
Where: CenturyLink Field
TV: KING, 5
Radio: KIRO 97.3 FM

Scouting report
A busy summer gets even more frantic starting today when Sounders FC plays host to Chivas USA. Beginning with today’s game, Seattle plays six games in 18 days — three Major League Soccer games, two CONCACAF Champions League games and a U.S. Open Cup semifinal.

The good news for Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid is that he has options during this busy stretch. Schmid told reporters this week that defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (knee) is close to returning and forward O’Brian White (blood clot) is close to being back at full speed.

“It’s good because there are a lot of options, a lot of decisions that have to get made,” Schmid said. “… Picking the full squad for Saturday is going to involve some decisions. But we have so many games coming up it gives us the opportunity to rotate a little bit, which is something we need to do in these games.”

Whoever Schmid runs out on the field today, he’d love nothing more than to see that group jump ahead early. As well as Sounders FC (11-5-8) has been playing — Seattle has won six of its past eight in league play and has just one loss in its past 11 MLS games — it has hardly been smooth sailing. Last weekend Seattle needed two goals in the final minutes for a comeback win, and repeatedly during this stretch Sounders FC has conceded a goal early and had to battle back. Of course, Schmid is happy his team is winning, but he wouldn’t mind a slightly less stressful afternoon on the sideline.

“Well you know, we’d like to win games a little easier than that,” Schmid said after the victory in Kansas City.

After struggling early in the season, Chivas (7-8-8) has rebounded with wins in two of its past three matches, and just one loss in its past seven games.