Galaxy looks to get back on track as season resumes Wednesday

After a fairly inconsistent first half of the season, the final few months of the season could cause teams to panic. But as the Galaxy prepares for game No. 19 of its season, that’s not the case.

The Galaxy, in a three-game losing skid, returns to league action Wednesday when it hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps (7:30 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet).

The Galaxy’s last MLS game came on July 4, which ended in a humiliating 6-2 defeat to Real Salt Lake.

“Everybody knows how MLS runs,” Galaxy midfielder Jermaine Jones said. “Second part of the season is always the important one. You have to get ready and slide into a playoff spot and then you focus and hope you get the run that you need.

“We know that we have a good team and when we’re all on the same page, that we can have a good second half of the season.

The Galaxy (6-8-4) enters the game with 22 points, good enough for eighth in the ultra-competitive Western Conference standings, where it’s just six points out of third place.

Vancouver is missing several players due to national team duty.

The calendar might say it is too early to deem this a must-win game for the Galaxy, but it is certainly an important one.

Of the team’s 22 points earned this season through its first 18 games, 16 have come on the road, where the club has a 5-3-1 record. At home, the record is a paltry 1-5-3 (six points).

“It is a huge game where we can pick up some points and get moving in the right direction,” Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe said. “Hopefully, we will have a couple of our injured guys that have been out being able to come back. It is getting to that second half of the season, so of course, we assume and expect that we’re going to win at home every single game and we want to perform well. I hate putting the title that this is a must-win game.

“I mean it is another game. The more pressure you put on it, I feel like the more tight players play, the more … You’re not playing like yourself and you’re not flowing in the game. You’re not relaxed and able to perform like you need it. It is one of those ones where we have a lot of experienced players and a lot of guys that have gone through a lot of ups and downs in their careers, so I think as we get to this second half, I have confidence in all our guys and we have enough veterans and experience on the team that we know what it takes to get it done, so I’m not worried about it.”

Galaxy all-star selections

Defender and captain Jelle Van Damme and midfielder Giovani dos Santos were among the 11 players selected by Chicago Fire coach Veljko Paunovic Tuesday for the 2017 MLS All-Star team.

MLS commissioner Don Garber also made two commissioner picks (Dom Dwyer, Sporting Kansas City and Kellyn Acosta, FC Dallas).

MLS All-Stars will face Spanish power Real Madrid, Aug. 2 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

This will be the second consecutive appearance for both players. Both players also were selected to the 2016 MLS Best XI list.

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The Galaxy’s last game before the All-Star Game will be July 29 against Seattle.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC at GALAXY

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. at StubHub Center

TV/Radio: Spectrum SportsNet; KWKW/1330; LAGalaxy.com (English)

Update: The Whitecaps are sixth in the Western Conference (7-7-3) with 24 points. They’re 2-5-1 on the road. Vancouver is missing defenders Sam Adekugbe, Marcel de Jong and midfielders Alphonso Davies and Russell Teibert, currently with the Canadian national team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Kendall Watson is also away with the Costa Rican national team. Fredy Montero leads Vancouver with six goals. Cristian Techera has five. Vancouver won the first meeting this season, 4-2 at BC Place, April 1. The Galaxy had a 1-0-2 record against the Whitecaps last season. Gyasi Zardes is the lone Galaxy player unavailable due to national team duty. This is a two-game week in MLS. The Galaxy will head east Thursday to prepare for Saturday’s contest against the New England Revolution.