Investigation Launched Over Betting Allegations against Cleveland Guardians Pitcher Luis Ortiz in MLB
In a recent turn of events, Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz finds himself under investigation by Major League Baseball (MLB) for gambling concerns, following the flagging of two suspicious pitches by a betting-integrity firm [1][2]. Ortiz has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through at least July 17, a decision that was jointly agreed upon by MLB and the players association [1][2].
Ortiz, who is 26 years old, was scheduled to start for the Guardians on July 3, but his spot was filled due to the ongoing investigation [1][2]. This season marks his first with Cleveland, having been acquired from Pittsburgh in the offseason. As of now, he has a 4.36 ERA through 16 starts [1][2]. The investigation and Ortiz's leave come at a challenging time for the Guardians, who have experienced a six-game losing streak and currently sit second in the AL Central [1].
The betting-integrity firm, IC360, sent alerts to sportsbooks in June regarding these pitches, which were thrown on June 15 against the Seattle Mariners and June 27 against the St. Louis Cardinals [3]. It is not specified whether these pitches appear unusual beyond the suspicious betting activity. However, the pitch against Pedro Pagés of the St. Louis Cardinals, which was flagged by IC360, looks particularly suspicious [3]. Similarly, there was suspicious betting activity on Ortiz to miss the strike zone on the first pitch of the bottom of the second inning against the Mariners and in the top of the third versus the Cardinals [3].
Last year, San Diego's Tucupita Marcano was banned for life by MLB for violating the league's gambling policy [2]. An investigation found that Marcano placed 231 bets on MLB games in 2022 and 2023 when he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates [2]. Marcano bet $87,319 on MLB games and only won 4.3% of his wagers [2]. It is important to note that Marcano did not play in any of the games he bet on [3].
The first pitch under investigation is a slider that bounces low and outside for an obvious ball against Randy Arozarena of the Mariners [3]. Some sportsbooks take action on microbets, which are wagers on specific events within a sporting event, such as the first pitch in an inning being a ball or a hit batter [3]. The pitch against Pedro Pagés of the St. Louis Cardinals, which was flagged by IC360, is worse than the pitch in the Seattle game [3].
Jomboy Media, a baseball content creator, posted the two pitches in question on social media [3]. Interestingly, MLB recently acquired a stake in Jomboy Media [1]. Four other players received one-year suspensions at the same time Marcano was banned: Michael Kelly, Andrew Saalfrank, Jay Groome, and José Rodríguez [2]. As of now, only Michael Kelly has returned to the big leagues [2].
It is crucial to remember that this is an ongoing matter, and MLB has not provided further updates beyond these points as of early July 2025 [1][2][3]. Given the nature of the investigation, it is challenging to judge individual pitches out of context. Nevertheless, the league is diligently working to ensure the integrity of the game remains uncompromised.
[1] https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35539787/mlb-investigating-cleveland-guardians-pitcher-luis-ortiz-gambling-concerns [2] https://www.mlb.com/news/guardians-luis-ortiz-investigated-for-gambling-concerns/c-343246212 [3] https://www.si.com/mlb/2023/07/04/mlb-investigating-cleveland-guardians-pitcher-luis-ortiz-for-gambling-concerns-ic360-alert
- The ongoing investigation of Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz for gambling concerns has prompted a delay in his baseball career, with sports betting being a part of the allegations.
- The sports world and MLB, in particular, have been grappling with gambling issues, as demonstrated by the recent lifetime ban of San Diego's Tucupita Marcano for violating the league's gambling policy.
- In light of the ongoing investigation, Major League Baseball (MLB) is focusing on maintaining the integrity of the game, a commitment that extends to sports betting, as shown in their joint actions against suspicious pitches and insider gambling.
