Two Cleveland Guardians Pitchers Charged in Federal Case Over Alleged Betting Scheme

Two pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians were indicted Sunday on federal charges tied to a sports betting and money laundering conspiracy, according to prosecutors — the latest scandal to emerge amid growing scrutiny of gambling across professional sports.

According to the indictment, Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz allegedly accepted bribes as part of a scheme to manipulate bets placed on specific pitches thrown during Major League Baseball (MLB) games. Prosecutors said the scheme began in May 2023 with Clase and later expanded to include Ortiz.

Both players face federal charges of fraud, conspiracy, and bribery and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the top counts. MLB placed the players on administrative leave in July 2024 as the league launched its own gambling investigation.

A white baseball on a brown leather baseball glove | Source: Pexels

“MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process. We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” the league said in a statement.

The Cleveland Guardians also confirmed awareness of the case. “We are aware of the recent law enforcement action. We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue,” the team said. The Major League Baseball Players Association declined to comment.

According to court documents, the pitchers allegedly conspired with bettors who placed “hundreds of fraudulent bets” using insider information about which pitches would be thrown. The indictment claims Clase agreed in advance to alter his pitch selection or placement — including intentionally throwing pitches outside the strike zone — to ensure successful prop bets. Prosecutors allege he also provided funds to co-conspirators to continue financing the operation.

The indictment cites one example in a game against the New York Mets, in which Clase allegedly manipulated pitches to benefit the scheme. In total, the fraudulent betting activity allegedly generated at least $400,000 in winnings for the conspirators, according to the filing.

Ortiz’s attorney, Chris Georgalis, denied the charges, describing the government’s case as “weak and circumstantial.” In a statement to CNBC, Georgalis said his client “is innocent of the charges related to two pitches he threw” and “looks forward to fighting these charges in court. There is no credible evidence Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning. He will defend himself, and he will prevail.”

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Prosecutors say the scheme represents another instance of illegal gambling activity intersecting with professional and collegiate sports. Just last month, the federal government announced a separate indictment alleging that confidential player information had been leaked to gamblers, including a claim that Miami Heat player Terry Rozier tipped off bettors to help them win prop bets.

The investigation into Clase and Ortiz remains ongoing, and both face potential disciplinary action from MLB in addition to the criminal charges.