Five Big Things: The three MLB teams that can clinch this week, and the one fighting to stay alive

Five Big Things is Big League Stew's look at the week ahead in MLB action, examining storylines and matchups you should keep an eye on.

1. MAGIC-NUMBER WATCHING
By next week at this time, it would be surprising if three of the six divisions in MLB weren't clinched. The magic numbers are dwindling, and in a few cities, the champagne might soon be on ice. The Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels are within a couple wins (and rival's losses) of stamping their playoff tickets. This week's matchups might accelerate things in a couple cases. Let's examine further.

* * *

2. THE ORIOLES COULD CLINCH IN JUST A COUPLE DAYS
The Orioles' magic number to clinch the AL East is at only three entering Monday's action, the lowest in MLB. They've obviously been running away with the AL East for a while now. And they could get finished quickly this week. They start a three-game series Monday with the second-place Toronto Blue Jays, giving the O's a chance to boil down that magic number even quicker. The Blue Jays are coming to Baltimore, then the Red Sox visit. There's a really good chance the Orioles clinch the division at home for the first time in 45 years. Pit beef sandwiches for everyone, if that happens.

* * *

3. THE NATS ARE FEELING MAGICAL TOO
The Nats could be NL East champs by the end of action Wednesday if they beat up on the rival Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Washington's magic number is four, and like the Orioles, the scheduling gods have matched them up against their chief foe this week, granting them the chance to pare down that magic number rapidly. The Nats send ace Stephen Strasburg to the mound Monday night against Ervin Santana, looking to start the three-game series on a good note. One reason the Braves can be hopeful the Nats won't pop champagne in their house: Atlanta is leading the season series 10-6.

* * *

4. ANGELS CAN CLINCH AT HOME
And here we thought the AL West was going to be a dogfight until the end. Nope. The Los Angeles Angels, after rattling off a 10-game winning streak and watching the Oakland Athletics crash and burn, have a magic number of four. They're playing the third-place (and wild-card contendin') Seattle Mariners for four games in Anaheim, then the Texas Rangers come to town. The Angels should be able to clinch the AL West for the first time since 2009, and do so in front of their home fans. (Sidenote: The Mariners/A's joust in the wild-card standings will also be good to watch this week).

* * *

5. IT'S MAKE-OR-BREAK FOR THE BREWERS
The Milwaukee Brewers, the first-place team in the NL Central most of the year, now have to fight to hang on to their postseason hopes. And this week is going to be tough. The Brewers — 78-72, third in the NL Central and 1 1/2 back for the second NL wild card — play six games on the road beginning Tuesday against division rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cards, of course, are leading the NL Central and the Pirates are the team the Brewers need to unseat for that wild-card spot.

The Brewers have been playing better recently, winning four of five after losing 13 or 14 in a late-August swoon that knocked them out of first place. They're 6-10 against the Cardinals this season, but on the bright side, the Brewers have won 11 of 16 against the Pirates. As good as the Giants have been lately, the NL Central isn't likely to send three teams to the playoffs like it did in 2013. So the Brewers need to keep winning and take down the Pirates in order to get in. No better time — and maybe no other time — than this week.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

- - - - - - -

Mike Oz is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz