Major League Baseball Investigates Cleveland reliever Emmanuel Clase over alleged gambling issues
Emmanuel Clase, the star closer for the Cleveland Guardians, has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through at least August 31, 2025, as part of Major League Baseball's (MLB) ongoing sports-betting investigation. This move comes alongside teammate Luis Ortiz, who has been on similar leave since early July.
Timeline and Investigation Context
The investigation intensified after alerts were raised by betting-integrity firm IC360 regarding suspicious pitching actions by Luis Ortiz in mid to late June. Specifically, Ortiz's pitches thrown outside the strike zone on the first pitch of innings triggered betting alerts due to wagers on the outcome of first pitches.
Following Ortiz's leave, MLB placed Clase on non-disciplinary leave on July 28, ahead of the trade deadline. This sidelines one of MLB’s premier relief pitchers during a critical stretch of the season.
Both players are currently on non-disciplinary paid leave, meaning they remain under contract and receive pay but are prohibited from participating in major league games or being present at team facilities during the investigation.
Implications for Cleveland Guardians' Playoff Bid
Clase's absence removes a dominant closer from the Guardians’ bullpen during a crucial playoff push. The team is forced to adjust its late-inning pitching strategy by recalling other relievers like Tim Herrin from Triple-A.
With Clase unavailable and Ortiz also sidelined, the Guardians lose depth in relief pitching, potentially weakening their roster in tight games down the stretch and complicating their postseason aspirations.
The timing near the trade deadline also affects Clase's trade value and likelihood of a late-season deal, given teams generally avoid acquiring players unable to contribute immediately.
MLB Rules on Gambling and Player Leaves
MLB has strict rules prohibiting players from betting on baseball, and it enforces investigations when integrity concerns arise. The non-disciplinary paid leave designation allows MLB to remove players temporarily while investigating without presuming guilt or discipline, as an agreement with the MLB Players Association dictates.
The league has taken proactive measures to maintain integrity by partnering with betting-integrity firms like IC360 to monitor suspicious betting patterns and promptly act to investigate potential misconduct.
Future Developments
Ortiz has been keeping in pitching shape at an independent training facility in town. The Guardians have stated they will respect the league's confidential investigative process and will not comment further at this time.
The investigation's outcome remains uncertain, but both Clase and Ortiz's status may change after the results are announced. Their pay during the leave is covered under the terms of their administrative leave.
This incident reflects MLB’s intensified scrutiny on gambling-related integrity issues, significantly impacting the Guardians’ bullpen strength during the playoff race while highlighting MLB’s enforcement mechanisms designed to combat sports betting violations within the league.
In light of the ongoing sports-betting investigation by Major League Baseball (MLB), star pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz from the Cleveland Guardians, hailing from the Dominican Republic, have been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave. The investigation, which took a turn after suspicious pitching actions by Ortiz were detected by betting-integrity firm IC360, could potentially complicate the Guardians' playoff aspirations in baseball's American League Central, given the key contributors now sidelined. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the investigation's outcome, the Guardians have pledged to respect MLB's confidential investigative process and adhere to its rules, which aim to maintain integrity in baseball and MLB by preventing gambling violations.
