Guardians pitchers have leave extended as part of MLB gambling probe

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are on paid leave amid a gambling investigation.
The investigation started after unusual betting activity surrounding two of Ortiz’s pitches in June.
Ortiz was initially placed on leave in July, with Clase following a few weeks later.

Major League Baseball has revealed that Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz will remain on nondisciplinary paid leave ‘until further notice’ as part of an ongoing gambling investigation.

MLB said in a statement released on Sunday, Aug. 31, that the league and the players union had agreed to give Clase and Ortiz extended leave while the probe was in progress. Neither player is expected to return to the team this season.

The investigation began when a sportsbook flagged two pitches Ortiz threw during games in June that drew unusual betting interest. In both instances – June 15 against the Seattle Mariners and June 27 against the St. Louis Cardinals – Ortiz’s first-pitch sliders were well out of the strike zone.

After those two incidents were brought to MLB’s attention, Ortiz was placed on leave July 3. In his first season with Cleveland after being acquired in an offseason trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ortiz was was 4-9 with a 4.36 ERA in 16 starts.

Clase, the Guardians’ All-Star closer, was put on leave a few weeks later on July 28 as part of the same investigation.

Clase led the American League with 47 saves in 2024, and had a 5-3 with 24 saves and a 3.23 ERA this season.

The Guardians (68-66) entered play on Sunday three games behind the Mariners for the third and final AL wild card playoff spot.