Cleveland Guardians Pitchers Indicted in Sports Betting Scheme

Federal prosecutors have indicted Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz on charges of wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. The indictment alleges that, starting in May 2023, Clase collaborated with bettors to manipulate specific pitches during Major League Baseball games, providing them with advance information to place successful prop bets. Ortiz is accused of joining the scheme in June 2025. The alleged actions resulted in bettors winning at least $460,000 through fraudulent wagers. Ortiz was arrested at Boston's Logan Airport and is scheduled to appear in federal court. Clase is not currently in custody. If convicted, both players face up to 65 years in prison. Major League Baseball stated that it has been cooperating with federal law enforcement since the outset of the investigation and that its own inquiry is ongoing. The Cleveland Guardians have also expressed their commitment to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and MLB as the investigations continue.