Cleveland Guardians All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through August 31 as part of Major League Baseball’s ongoing sports betting investigation. Clase becomes the second Guardians pitcher placed on leave in connection with the gambling probe, joining right-hander Luis Ortiz.
The investigation began with Ortiz after betting-integrity firm IC360 flagged unusual gambling activity on two specific pitches he threw in June. The alert referenced action on Ortiz’s first pitches to be a ball or hit batsman in games on June 15 against Seattle and June 27 against St. Louis. In both instances, Ortiz threw first-pitch sliders that were well outside the strike zone.
The alert flagged bets placed in Ohio, New York and New Jersey on these specific pitch outcomes. Betting on first-pitch results is offered by some sportsbooks as microbets.
The Guardians issued a statement saying “no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted” by the investigation. However, it remains unclear whether the Clase and Ortiz investigations are related.
Clase was considered a major trade deadline target before being placed on leave, with his trade value now effectively eliminated. The 27-year-old closer has posted a 3.23 ERA with 24 saves this season, though this represents a decline from his dominant 2024 campaign when he had a 0.61 ERA.
The investigation comes about a year after MLB banned San Diego infielder Tucupita Marcano for life for placing nearly 400 bets on baseball. Four other players received one-year suspensions for gambling on baseball while in the minor leagues.
Both players will continue to be paid during their leave and will not count against the team’s 40-man roster. The Guardians currently sit at 52-53, eight games back in the AL Central division.
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