Two players from the Cleveland Guardians are now embroiled in a growing gambling scandal. ESPN has revealed that closer Emmanuel Clase has been charged by prosecutors with deliberately pitching to benefit gamblers in 48 games over recent years, as outlined in court documents released Thursday.
Last year, Clase and starting pitcher Luis L. Ortiz, also a right-hander and teammate in Cleveland, were indicted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. The Justice Department alleges that both players conspired to throw specific types and speeds of pitches to influence betting outcomes before each game. Prosecutors claim the two made at least $450,000 through these illegal activities, with Clase and Ortiz pleading not guilty to all charges last November. While the original indictment cited nine suspicious instances involving Clase, the latest filing increases that number to 48.
It is alleged that Clase began these activities in May 2023, with Ortiz joining in for two games in June 2025. Both pitchers have been on leave since late June 2025 as Major League Baseball continues its investigation. Clase, 27, has been one of baseball’s top closers, earning three All-Star selections and finishing third in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2024. Ortiz, also 27, has pitched in 50 starts and 25 relief appearances across four MLB seasons.
If found guilty, both players face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison on charges including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, bribery conspiracy related to sports, and money laundering conspiracy.
In a statement to CBS Sports last November when the charges were first made public, Clase’s attorney defended him, saying, “Emmanuel has dedicated his life to baseball and is working hard to help his team win. He is innocent of all charges and looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Likewise, Ortiz’s lawyer told CBS Sports, “Luis has always been a fierce competitor who gives his best every inning. There is no credible evidence showing he intentionally tried to lose. The government’s case is circumstantial and weak. Luis is ready to defend himself and expects to win.” His attorney also stated that all payments received were for legitimate reasons.
The trial is currently set to begin on May 4th.
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Fan Take: This scandal deeply shakes the integrity of baseball, a sport that thrives on trust and fair competition. Fans deserve transparency and accountability, and how the league handles this case could have lasting effects on baseball’s reputation and its future relationship with gambling.
