Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers are at the center of a federal bribery scandal that’s shaking Major League Baseball. Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted on charges of accepting cash from gamblers to manipulate pitch outcomes, allegedly rigging games to influence betting results.
According to federal prosecutors, the two Dominican-born pitchers pocketed thousands in exchange for throwing specific types of pitches that would satisfy in-game prop bets. These included balls deliberately thrown in the dirt or under certain speed thresholds. The scheme reportedly netted two unnamed gamblers from the Dominican Republic over $460,000 in illicit winnings.
Ortiz was arrested at Boston Logan International Airport and is scheduled for a court appearance. Clase, who remains out of custody, is also charged in the scheme. Both face multiple conspiracy counts, including wire fraud, sports bribery, and money laundering—offenses carrying potential prison terms of up to 20 years.
The accusations span multiple games between 2023 and 2024, with investigators citing pitch-by-pitch examples. In one case, Clase allegedly communicated with a gambler just minutes before a game, after which bettors scored $11,000 by wagering on a pitch thrown under a certain speed. Other incidents involve first-pitch sliders and cutters that consistently missed the strike zone—some bouncing before the plate or landing in the dirt.
Major League Baseball, which flagged the irregular betting activity, referred the matter to federal authorities and has pledged full cooperation. The players have been on paid leave since July, when the league launched its internal investigation.
Ortiz’s defense denies all wrongdoing, claiming the monetary transfers were for legitimate purposes and insisting he never compromised his performance. Clase’s legal representation has not responded to requests for comment.
The Guardians issued a brief statement acknowledging the investigation and pledging cooperation.
This case emerges amid a broader reckoning in American sports over the integrity risks posed by legalized gambling. A recent wave of arrests has targeted athletes and coaches across major leagues, including a high-profile crackdown that implicated NBA coach Chauncey Billups and Heat guard Terry Rozier.
With federal authorities turning up the heat on sports betting abuses, the charges against Clase and Ortiz raise new alarms about how deep the problem runs—and what it will take to restore public trust in professional competition.