Time is beginning to run out for Toronto FC. 

A 12-match winless run in MLS – 13 in all competitions – has Toronto (3-7-8) sitting in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, three spots and six points below the playoff line, with 16 games remaining in the regular season. Wins have been few and far between for TFC this year, with their last victory coming on April 4.   

Three of Toronto’s four games in August and five of its next six overall are at home, starting with Saturday’s visit by the New England Revolution, which will be the Reds’ first outing at BMO Field since a 4-2 loss to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on May 9.    

Now more than ever, coach Robin Fraser’s side can’t afford any major missteps, especially at home. The margin of error during the upcoming slate of games for Toronto is minuscule. TFC have to take full advantage of this slew of matches at BMO Field. If not, they run the risk of being out of the playoff race before the summer is even over.   

“These home games that we have now, especially these early ones, we need to take care of (them) to put ourselves in a good way and put this club in a good mindset, in a winning mindset, and make BMO a place where we go to and three points is the only thing on every single person’s mind when we step into the stadium,” fullback Richie Laryea said this week.  

It’s a sentiment that was echoed by veteran centre back Walker Zimmerman.   

“It’s an important stretch of games for us, and we still have 16 games left to make a good push … In the scheme of things, after three or four games, you start racking up three or four wins and we’re having a different conversation, so we know the job that lies ahead for........

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