Baseball player Emmanuel Clase from the Guardians team is taking a break, linked to MLB's investigation into sports betting matters.
Major League Baseball Investigates Suspicious Betting Activity Among Cleveland Guardians Players
Major League Baseball (MLB) is currently investigating possible sports betting violations involving two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. Both players have been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through August 31 as part of the inquiry.
The investigation was initiated following an alert by IC360, a sports betting integrity firm, which reported unusual betting activity on two specific pitches thrown by Luis Ortiz. The bets involved wagers on those pitches being called balls or hit batsmen, with large amounts wagered from accounts in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio.
Ortiz was initially placed on leave on July 3 due to this suspicious betting pattern, and his leave was later extended until August 31. The first suspicious pitch was against the Seattle Mariners' Randy Arozarena in the bottom of the second inning on June 15. The second suspicious pitch was on June 27, the first pitch of the top of the third against the St. Louis Cardinals' Pedro Pagés. Both pitches were breaking balls that were clearly out of the strike zone.
Emmanuel Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave on July 29, but the specific details of the league's investigation regarding Clase remain unclear. The Guardians have not released any information about the specific investigation regarding Clase.
If proven to have violated the league's gambling rules, both Ortiz and Clase could face a lifetime ban from MLB. The ban of all-time hits leader Pete Rose is a well-known example of a lifetime ban for violating MLB's gambling rules.
While a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022 and 2023, Tucupita Marcano, who was previously placed on the permanently ineligible list by MLB for violating the league's gambling policy, placed 231 wagers on MLB games. 25 of Marcano's bets were made while he was on the Pirates' active roster, though he was out with an injury at the time. Marcano gambled a total of $87,319 on MLB games, and most of his bets were parlays. He did very badly, winning only 4.3% of his bets.
MLB has confirmed the disciplinary action against Clase and stated that no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted by the investigation. Both Ortiz and Clase remain barred from team facilities and activities while on leave but may still contact the organization.
The Guardians have confirmed that they are cooperating fully with MLB's investigation. The league and the team have emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as necessary.
[1] ESPN
[2] MLB.com
Major League Baseball (MLB) is also looking into potential sports betting involvement by Emmanuel Clase, another Cleveland Guardians pitcher, alongside Luis Ortiz. The ongoing investigation could lead to serious consequences for both players, given the lifetime ban imposed on all-time hits leader Pete Rose for similar violations.
