Baseball player Emmanuel Clase of the All-Star Guardians is currently suspended for his involvement in a sports betting investigation
In a surprising turn of events, the Cleveland Guardians are at the centre of a sports betting investigation by Major League Baseball (MLB). Two of their star pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, have been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of the probe.
Clase, the Guardians' All-Star closer, is under investigation for sports betting-related concerns. His involvement is significant as he is the highest-profile MLB player implicated in these betting probes to date. The investigation has potential ramifications for Clase, including suspension risk, his trade value, and the future of his ongoing contract.
Ortiz, a reliever and teammate of Clase, was put on leave earlier in July. The investigation extends to both pitchers, and MLB has kept the investigations confidential but ongoing through at least August 31, 2025.
The gambling activity on the pitches was flagged by a betting-integrity firm and forwarded to MLB. The investigation into Ortiz is related to in-game prop bets on two pitches thrown by Ortiz that received higher activity than usual during his starts at Seattle on June 15 and against St. Louis on June 27.
Tucupita Marcano, another MLB player, has been reported in some coverage of the investigation context. However, explicit details linking him directly to betting allegations or paid leave like Clase and Ortiz are not confirmed in the available sources. Marcano's involvement appears less direct or less publicly confirmed compared to Clase and Ortiz.
It's important to note that the Guardians have stated that no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted by the investigations.
Emmanuel Clase has a record of 5-3 with 24 saves in 48 games this year, but he also has a career-high 3.23 ERA. The team was scheduled to begin a three-game series against Colorado on Monday night.
This investigation comes after MLB suspended five players for gambling in June 2024, including a lifetime ban for San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano. Umpire Pat Hoberg was also fired by MLB in February for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games, and for intentionally deleting electronic messages pertinent to the league's investigation.
The Cleveland Guardians are currently second in the AL Central with a 52-53 record. The ongoing investigation is a reminder of MLB's increased scrutiny of betting-related issues during this period.
[1] Sports Illustrated: MLB Investigating Cleveland Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz for Sports Betting
[2] Cleveland.com: Major League Baseball investigates Cleveland Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz for sports betting
[3] ESPN: MLB investigates Cleveland Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz for sports betting
[4] USA Today: MLB investigates Cleveland Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz for sports betting
- Emmanuel Clase, a pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians, finds himself in the midst of an MLB investigation for alleged sports betting-related concerns, which could potentially affect his pension, trade value, and ongoing contract.
- Despite the ongoing investigation into sports betting activities, it appears that Tucupita Marcano, another MLB player, has less direct involvement compared to Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both of whom are pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians and are currently on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of the probe.
