Cleveland Guardians Pitchers Indicted in Federal Gambling Investigation

Federal prosecutors have indicted Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz on charges of wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. The indictment alleges that both players provided inside information to sports bettors, enabling them to place successful wagers on specific pitch outcomes.

According to the indictment, Clase and Ortiz agreed with bettors on the types of pitches they would throw in upcoming games. The bettors then placed bets on these pitches being of a certain speed or type and whether they would result in balls or strikes. In exchange, Clase and Ortiz received thousands of dollars in bribes.

"They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed," said Joseph Nocella Jr., the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. "And they betrayed America's pastime."

The scheme reportedly began in May 2023, with Clase providing information to gamblers that led to more than 100 fraudulent bets being placed on his pitches. Ortiz joined the scheme during the 2025 season. The bettors allegedly netted at least $450,000 from betting on Clase's and Ortiz's pitches, with at least $400,000 coming from Clase's throws.

Both players were placed on paid leave in July after Major League Baseball began an investigation into suspicious wagering activity on individual pitches in their games. In a statement, Major League Baseball said it had cooperated with federal authorities and was aware of the indictment. The league's own investigation is ongoing.

The Cleveland Guardians stated they are aware of the indictment and will cooperate with law enforcement and Major League Baseball's investigation.

This case adds to growing concerns about the integrity of professional sports amid the widespread legalization of sports betting, which has been embraced and profited from by sports leagues.