MLB Playoffs: How Week of August 17 Will Shake Up the Postseason Picture

Major League Baseball's next two weeks can tell a lot about a team. Postseason hopefuls try to prove they're for real while others quietly fade away into mediocrity. 

The August 31 waiver trade deadline forces teams to competitively show their hand before the final month of the season. This week offers some notable series matchups around the league that could determine the playoff fate of several teams. 

The San Francisco Giants face a road trip against two playoff-caliber clubs from the National League Central, as they hope to play their way into October baseball. 

Meanwhile, a few American League clubs are looking to play their way to a Wild Card Game berth.

When putting together this list, we considered each team's postseason probability, according to Baseball Prospectus, record over the last six-to-10 games, remaining regular-season schedule and the desperation factor. 

This factor translates differently for each club: A first-place team (see Cardinals) doesn't need wins as desperately as that fringe wild-card club (see Angels). 

It's make-or-break time for many MLB teams, and the week of August 17 brings some exciting baseball drama. 

San Francisco Giants at St. Louis Cardinals

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Madison Bumgarner is anchoring the playoff-hopeful Giants after tossing back-to-back complete game victories.

When: August 17-19

Postseason Probabilities: Giants: 32.9%, Cardinals: 99.7%

Last 10 Games: Giants: 5-5, Cardinals: 7-3

The Giants (64-53) are coming off a four-game sweep at home of the struggling Washington Nationals and currently sit 3.5 games out of the second National League wild-card spot and just 1.5 behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. 

The reigning World Series champs have a tough week ahead of them, and it starts on the road in St. Louis.

In a rematch of last season's NLCS, the Giants will have their hands full. The Cardinals (75-42) own baseball's best record and aren't showing any signs of slowing down. 

San Francisco will begin the toughest stretch of its season Monday after benefiting from the second-easiest schedule in baseball so far, according to ESPN. 

After a three-game series with St. Louis, the Giants will face the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and Cardinals again before a matchup with the division rival Dodgers. 

They must start this stretch strong, and a couple of competitive victories on the road against baseball's A-team should give them confidence in making a late-season push for, at the very least, a wild-card berth. 

The Cardinals, meanwhile, sit comfortably ahead of the NL Central after going 7-3 over their last 10 games.

Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles

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Manny Machado and the Orioles are in the midst of a tight AL Wild Card race.

When: August 20-23

Postseason Probabilities: Twins: 7.1%, Orioles: 33.0%

Last 10 Games: Twins: 5-5, Orioles: 6-4

The Orioles (60-56) are barely holding onto the second wild-card spot in the American League, while the Twins (59-58) are just 1.5 games back of Baltimore. 

This series could propel one team further up the standings and leave the other struggling to keep up. 

Minnesota, though, desperately needs wins against quality clubs like Baltimore if it wants to make the postseason. 

The upcoming week is a deciding one for the Twins, as they have a road series against the New York Yankees before their road series against Baltimore. 

Just a week ago, Minnesota fell under .500 for the first time since May 1 after riding a 3-12 cold streak. Yet series wins over the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians put the Twins back into the mix with just a 7.1 percent chance of making the playoffs. 

The Orioles, meanwhile, enter the week with just a half-game lead over the Angels in the wild-card race, while their AL East rivals pull away at the top of the standings—the Blue Jays and Yankees are both at least 3.5 games better. 

Next month's wild-card race could come down to matchups like this between two teams that can almost taste the postseason.  

Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Angels

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The Angels, in the worst stretch of their season, could find themselves on the outside looking in if they don't come up big against Toronto.

When: August 21-23

Postseason Probabilities: Blue Jays: 91.4%, Angels: 37.9%

Last 10 Games: Blue Jays: 8-2, Angels: 3-7

It's the meeting of two teams going in opposite directions.  

The Angels (60-57) have fallen fast since the All-Star break, including a 5-10 stretch in the month of August. They were once neck-and-neck with the Houston Astros for first in the AL West, but now sit a half-game out of a second wild-card berth. 

On the flip side, the Blue Jays (65-54) have been the hottest team in baseball since acquiring Troy Tulowitzki and David Price at the trade deadline. They recently won 11 games in a row while going back-and-forth with the Yankees for first place in the AL East.

Right now, Toronto sits comfortably in the postseason—whether it's as a wild card or division winner. 

Obviously, a division title promises them an October first-round series rather than the risky play-in Wild Card Game. 

The Angels need to bounce out of their cold streak after losing three straight to the Kansas City Royals this past weekend. A series win against the Blue Jays could put them back on the right track heading into the final month of the season. 

San Francisco Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates

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If not for the Cardinals, the Pirates would be a first-place team.

When: August 20-23

Postseason Probabilities: Giants: 32.9%, Pirates: 93.0%

Last 10 Games: Giants: 5-5, Pirates: 8-2

We mentioned what's at stake for the Giants (64-53) earlier, but a series win in Pittsburgh could prove to be more valuable in the long run. 

They're 3.5 games out of the wild card, and you can bet they want to close that gap sooner rather than later. 

The Pirates (69-46) have the NL's second-best record and can practically make themselves comfortable for October baseball with a series win over San Francisco. 

Their only two losses over the last 10 games came against the Cardinals. 

Thursday should bring an exciting matchup that could potentially foreshadow the play-in Wild Card Game at the end of the season. 

Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros

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The Astros could gain some late-season confidence with wins over the first-place Dodgers.

When: August 21-23

Postseason Probabilities: Dodgers: 86.9%, Astros: 88.1%

Last 10 Games: Dodgers: 5-5, Astros: 4-6

Two first-place teams with exceptional talent make this interleague series a must-see event. 

While both have the potential to reach the World Series, they must first win their divisions. 

The Astros (64-54) might be in the best position to do so, as they sit 3.5 games ahead of the Angels for first in the AL West. Three games against the Dodgers would also give them a good idea of where they stand in the entire MLB. 

Meanwhile, Los Angeles (67-51) is barely ahead of the Giants in the NL West—just 2.5 games—making every series that much more important heading into September. 

Although they're a division leader, the Dodgers' record right now is worse than both the Cubs and Pirates—the current NL wild-card teams.