MLB indefinitely suspends Clase, Ortiz amid gambling probe
Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced that Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz will remain on nondisciplinary paid suspension “until further notice”. This comes as MLB continues its investigation into suspected gambling rule violations by the players. The case has become one of the most closely watched integrity probes in professional baseball in recent years and raises questions about the future careers of both athletes.
MLB stays silent as investigation widens
The probe began when an Ohio sportsbook flagged suspicious betting activity linked to Ortiz’s pitching appearances in June. The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) promptly alerted MLB, while integrity monitoring firm IC360 also raised red flags over several of Ortiz’s games.
On 3 July, MLB started investigating Ortiz after it was flagged that two of his pitches for two summer season games triggered unusual activity in microbets. ESPN sources reported this on 3 July 2025. According to the sources, in June, IC360 sent a warning to bookmakers regarding bets on Ortiz. In turn, MLB placed the player on non-disciplinary paid leave until 17 July. The leave was then extended on 18 July till 31 August, which has now been extended indefinitely. MLB emphasised that the decision is precautionary and meant to prevent any interference with the investigation.
Soon after, on 28 July, the Cleveland Guardians baseball team confirmed on social media that it had suspended another pitcher from play in connection with MLB’s investigation into the Luis Ortiz case. The league’s players’ association agreed to suspend Emmanuel Clase with pay on alleged sports betting fraud till 31 August, which has now been extended.
The Cleveland Guardians have now confirmed their cooperation with both MLB and regulators, stressing that protecting the integrity of the game remains their top priority. As of now, neither pitcher has been charged or fined. They said in a statement, “We have been informed of the extension and will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation.”
If investigators find that either player influenced games for betting purposes, they could face severe punishments under MLB’s strict anti-gambling policy, including lifetime bans.
Microbetting under fresh scrutiny
At the center of the controversy are microbetting markets, which allow wagers on individual pitches or plays. Regulators have long warned that micro-level bets increase the risk of match manipulation, particularly when tied to specific player performances.
Opponents argue microbetting makes professional sports more vulnerable to corruption. The other side of the coin, microbetting supporters highlight its popularity with bettors and value as an engagement tool. Ohio law bans prop bets on college athletes, but no such restrictions apply to professional games. The Clase–Ortiz investigation could influence whether leagues and regulators reconsider microbetting’s place in US sports betting markets.
Broader integrity cracks across sports
The Clase–Ortiz case isn’t isolated. It is part of a wider trend of gambling-related scandals shaking professional sports. In June 2024, Tucupita Marcano, a player for the San Diego Padres, was handed a lifetime ban from the league. The ban was placed after he was found to have placed numerous bets on games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates, his former team. Marcano’s betting activities were extensive. According to MLB, he placed 387 bets on baseball games between 2022 and 2023, amounting to over $150,000. Among these, 25 were parlay bets that included wagers on his own team to lose. These bets were placed while Marcano was sidelined due to injury.
Earlier in 2025, MLB terminated umpire Pat Hoberg for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games and for intentionally deleting electronic messages pertinent to the league’s investigation. Hoberg, known for his precision in calling games, was terminated in a sports betting account-sharing scandal.
Beyond baseball, other leagues face similar scandals
In the National Basketball Association (NBA) Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter received a lifetime ban in 2024. This decision came after an investigation revealed that Porter had not only bet on NBA games but also provided confidential information about his health to other gamblers. In July 2025, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas was arrested and charged in connection with a major illegal gambling ring operating out of Los Angeles, according to the US Department of Justice (DOJ). On 30 July 2025, federal agents arrested Arenas alongside five others, including Yevgeni Gershman—a suspected figure in Israeli organised crime—following a federal investigation into high-stakes underground poker games.
The National Football League (NFL) has also faced repeated issues. In 2022, former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended for a year after he placed bets on games that included the Falcons. Additionally, the league’s recent policy changes now call for harsher penalties across betting violations. Recently, the league has issued a clear directive to its players and staff stating trading sports event contracts on prediction market platforms such as Kalshi or Robinhood will be treated the same as prohibited sports betting.
In Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL), South Sydney Rabbitohs hooker Brandon Smith faces charges for betting and drug offenses, raising spot-fixing alarm. He was reportedly charged with providing inside information to an alleged drug dealer that may have influenced betting activity during a NRL match against Manly.
