If someone looks up the word "inconsistency" in the dictionary they'll likely find a reference to the 2015 Houston Dynamo. Well, let's be fair. No one uses dictionaries. If one looks in Wikipedia they'll find a link to said team's season. The only thing they have seemed to string together are losses, though not quite as much as last season.

After a comprehensive beating of sister club LA Galaxy last week, Owen Coyle and the Dynamo will be looking to string together some wins to get into the playoff picture during the dog days of summer. It'll be a difficult task as they travel to face rival Sporting KC.

Sporting currently boasts the best home record in Major League Soccer, and beat the Dynamo last week during a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal at Sporting Park by a score of 3 - 1 (though that line flatters Sporting). Unlike in that match, both sides will be more or less at full strength with the end of the Gold Cup.

A few injuries linger for both sides, as the Dynamo are missing defender Jermaine Taylor and midfielders Rob Lovejoy and Oscar Garcia. The latter may be able to provide some minutes Saturday night but don't expect him to feature heavily. On the flip side, KC continues to be without defenders Ike Opara and Jalil Anibaba. Defender Seth Sinovic is likely out for the game but it's possible he finds some time. Concussions are never a thing to rush.

Speaking of the Gold Cup, both sides do get their American players back and will likely feature in this game, but it's the return of star striker Giles Barnes that could be key for the game. The Jamaican burst onto the scene with a spectacular free kick goal to lift his side past the United States and into the Gold Cup Final for the first time. He had a great tournament with Jamaica and will be looking to carry that form back to the Dynamo.

After the match against the Galaxy, Coyle said he would find a way to get Barnes on the field alongside fellow strikers Will Bruin and Erick Torres (a thought puzzle fans have been struggling with for months now, including yours truly). If he does get them on the field at the same time in a good formation, look out league.

Speaking of Torres, the young Mexican International made his home debut in that 3 - 0 victory in a substitute appearance for about 20ish minutes. With only a baker's dozen games left in the season, Coyle can't take too long to work him into the lineup. While Torres may not start, he certainly will get most, if not all, of a half with a start likely the following match.

Perhaps the biggest key to the match will be Brad Davis. He has spent most of the season not playing up to his usual standards, but against LA he put in an amazing performance with a goal and an assist, while also providing the kind of set play service that's been missing. Perhaps best of all was his performances during the run of play, making wonderful runs and taking defenders on to create space. If he can keep that up for any length of time, the Dynamo will be that much more dangerous offensively.

In the Open Cup loss to KC, the team played a man down for most of the match when Luis Garrido was sent off for a reckless challenge. To have any hope, the Dynamo will have to keep their heads against a team that generates a lot of rough challenges and pushes teams hard physically. Cool heads will be needed. If they can manage that, a point isn't so crazy a thought and even three is a possibility.