Baseball League Temporarily Suspends Individual under Probe for Potential Betting Misconduct
Major League Baseball (MLB) is currently investigating Cleveland Guardians starter Luis Ortiz due to unusual gambling activity on two specific pitches he threw on June 15 and June 27, 2025.
Ortiz has been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July 3, initially through the All-Star break, but this leave has been extended through August 31, 2025, as the investigation continues. The investigation was triggered by IC360, a sports betting integrity firm, who alerted sportsbooks and gambling regulators about an abnormal spike in betting on Ortiz's first pitch in these innings, specifically wagers on the pitch being either a ball or a hit batsman. The bets originated from accounts in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio. Both pitches ended up well outside the strike zone, raising red flags for MLB.
Ortiz's leave is non-disciplinary, meaning no formal punishment has been announced yet, and he is not allowed to be with the team or at team facilities during this period, effectively sidelining him for the remainder of the season barring a decision to the contrary.
The Guardians organization has stated that no other players or personnel are expected to be impacted by the investigation, which also involves another pitcher on the team, closer Emmanuel Clase, who was placed on a similar leave related to the gambling inquiry.
Michael Savio, a sports betting industry writer from Denver, is not directly involved in the ongoing investigation into Guardians starter Luis Ortiz. Savio has been covering the sports betting industry for over four years, providing accurate and easy-to-understand information for readers at Casino.com. It's important to note that Savio's work at Casino.com does not involve any allegations of game-fixing or performance-enhancing drugs.
The details surrounding the investigation into Ortiz have not been confirmed by the MLB, and no official statement has been released regarding the matter. The investigation does not appear to have affected the Guardians' current season standing.
As the investigation remains active, developments are expected depending on MLB's findings. The Guardians have not made any public comments regarding the investigation into Luis Ortiz. When not covering the industry, Michael Savio enjoys betting on sports.
References: 1. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34234887/mlb-investigates-cleveland-guardians-starting-pitcher-luis-ortiz-gambling-allegations 2. https://www.si.com/mlb/2025/07/05/cleveland-guardians-luis-ortiz-mlb-investigation 3. https://www.mlb.com/news/luis-ortiz-mlb-investigation-on-leave 4. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-investigating-cleveland-guardians-luis-ortiz-for-gambling-allegations/ 5. https://www.denverpost.com/author/michael-savio/ 6. https://www.casino.com/us/blog/author/michael-savio/ 7. https://www.colorado.com/
Emmanuel Clase, another pitcher on the Cleveland Guardians team, is also under investigation for sports betting activity, like Luis Ortiz. The investigation into Ortiz's sports-betting activities on specific pitches he threw on June 15 and June 27, 2025, has led to his non-disciplinary paid leave, which has been extended through August 31, 2025.
