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With all the expansion talk floating around MLB these days, Jayson Stark of The Athletic explores what the league might look like with 32 teams instead of 30. Though his suggestion that the postseason has the potential to expand to 16 teams seems comical, Stark does provide some useful insight into which cities could get new teams. Additionally, his dive into how divisions could realign, how the playoff format could change, and why MLB might shorten the schedule to 154 games in the process all spark some opportunity for some interesting debate. Stark’s article ends with a bold assertion that all of this is a matter of when, not if.

A couple of other interesting items…

• MLB owners have engaged in interesting discussions on gambling in the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent reversal of the federal ban on sports betting (as David Waldstein of the New York Times writes). Commissioner Rob Manfred has reportedly said that it’s vital steps be taken in order to ensure the integrity of the game, but also indicated that baseball would like a share of the profits from betting on the sport. With states now allowed to make their own decisions in regard to sports gambling, it’s interesting to note that the potential expansion for MLB could provide some incentive expansion-hopeful states to be loose with betting regulations.
• One of baseball’s most intangible qualities may be a little more tangible than we think, according to Ben Rowen of The Atlantic. A number of research groups are embarking upon a mission to quantify team chemistry, once deemed the Holy Grail of performance analytics by Harvard Business Review. Some methods described involve collection of biometrics, advanced mathematics, and even “anthropological forrays into the clubhouse.” One particularly interesting strategy seems to be looking for places in which advanced performance metrics and player intangibles are “at odds”. The whole piece is well worth a read; it doesn’t provide much in the way of firm evidence but it certainly presents some interesting opportunities for research and offers some optimism that team chemistry could potentially be quantified and used to bring about a competitive advantage.

During the third inning of last night’s game, Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was forced to make an early exit due to appendicitis symptoms (h/t Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports). He was rushed to the hospital to be evaluated, and this morning posted a picture of himself on Twitter, still there. Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group reports that Belt had an appendectomy late last night and is expected to leave the hospital this afternoon. It’s worth noting that players have been able to return from such procedures in as little as two weeks, but that’s surely not much consolation for a San Francisco ballclub that’s seen a small army of players spend time on the DL already this season, including Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija, Alen Hanson, Mac Williamson, Mark Melancon, Joe Panik and Hunter Pence. Belt’s absence will be one of the largest blows yet, considering his 160 wRC+ and .402 wOBA are practically carrying the team’s offense of late. We’ll continue to monitor this situation and wait for updates as to Belt’s status.

Other injury news from around baseball…

• The Indians have myriad outfielders close to returning from the DL, or, as MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian puts it, “Decision Day is Tuesday and there are only so many seats to be had in this game of musical chairs.” Only two short weeks ago, it would have seemed as though Greg Allen was ticketed for Triple-A upon Bradley Zimmer’s return from the DL, but Allen’s fantastic play of late and defensive value may force the Tribe to make some difficult decisions when Lonnie Chisenhall and Brandon Guyer are activated. Michael Brantley is, of course, a lock to keep his spot, while Zimmer and Chisenhall seem likely to remain on the active roster as well. Rajai Davis, Melky Cabrera and Guyer have combined to post -1.1 fWAR on the season, and one has to wonder how Davis in particular will survive the roster crunch with Allen playing so well.
• Elsewhere on MLB.com, Joe Trezza reports that the Cardinals plan to have catcher Yadier Molina and right-hander Carlos Martinez back on Tuesday. Molina’s reportedly scheduled for a two-game rehab assignment, while Martinez already made one four-inning rehab start after missing three weeks with a a lat strain. On the other hand, Trezza tweets, shortstop Paul DeJong is a bit further away from a return. He’s been cleared to perform everyday activities with the hand that was broken in a hit-by-pitch incident on May 18th. However, he won’t start exercising the hand until next week, and won’t perform any baseball activities with it for about two weeks.