Brian Schwake anchors Nashville SC with four-save performance

This daily breakdown is built on PickALeague’s internal WAR and PAL metrics, calculated from MLS games played on Saturday, October 10. The WAR earned in a single day captures exactly how much a player added for his club beyond a replacement-level option at his position. PAL, meanwhile, locates his season among regulars at the same role across the league and moves as each performance comes in.

October 10: the best performances by WAR

• Brian SchwakeNashville SCWAR3.6▲ 1.46PAL90→96▲ 698 min, 4 saves, 1 GA
• Ethan HorvathNew York Red BullsWAR1.9▲ 1.4PAL67→68▲ 1105 min, 4 saves, 1 GA
• 
  Andrew ThomasSeattle Sounders FCWAR3.3▲ 1.31PAL84→88▲ 4104 min, 5 saves, 0 GA
• 
  Sean JohnsonD.C. UnitedWAR1.7▲ 1.31PAL56→60▲ 4103 min, 5 saves, 4 GA
• 
  Kristijan KahlinaCharlotte FCWAR1.8▲ 1.3PAL70→71▲ 1100 min, 3 saves, 2 GA

Brian Schwake carried Nashville SC with a massive +1.46 WAR bump, pushing his season total to 3.6. Over 98 minutes he produced 4 saves while allowing just 1 goal, a showing strong enough to lift his PAL from 90 to 96 and place him among the top-rated keepers.

Ethan Horvath also delivered a big night in goal for the New York Red Bulls, adding +1.4 WAR to climb to 1.9 on the season. His 4 saves in 105 minutes with only 1 goal conceded reinforce an already heavy workload (97 saves this year), even if his PAL only nudges from 67 to 68.

Andrew Thomas continues to impress for Seattle Sounders FC with a +1.31 WAR jump, bringing him to 3.3 for the campaign. A 104-minute shutout with 5 saves underscores a busy season (108 saves, 35 goals allowed) and pushes his PAL from 84 up to 88 among goalkeepers.

Sean Johnson faced a demanding outing for D.C. United yet still turned it into a +1.31 WAR gain, raising his season mark to 1.7. Despite 4 goals against in 103 minutes, his 5 saves and overall usage (96 saves in 2744 minutes) are enough to bump his PAL from 56 to 60.

Kristijan Kahlina added another solid effort for Charlotte FC, improving his WAR by +1.3 to reach 1.8. With 3 saves in 100 minutes and 2 goals allowed, he builds on a busy year (119 saves, 39 goals conceded) while his PAL edges up from 70 to 71.

One to watch

• Julián BazánNew York Red BullsWAR0.1▼ 0.08PAL86→65▼ 21105 min, 0 goals, 0 assists

Julián Bazán went the full 105 minutes at center back for the New York Red Bulls without registering a goal or assist, but that workload didn’t translate positively in our metrics. His WAR dips slightly from 0.2 to 0.1, and more noticeably his PAL falls from 86 to 65, suggesting other regulars at his position have outpaced his recent impact. It’s a trend to keep an eye on over the next stretch rather than a final judgment on his season.