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Major League Baseball placed Luis Ortiz on non-disciplinary paid leave due to a betting investigation on July 3. About three and a half weeks later, two-time American League Reliever of the Year Emmanuel Clase joined him.
Despite devastating blows to the pitching staff, the Cleveland Guardians rallied to win the American League Central, overcoming a double-digit game deficit in the month of September.
The Detroit Tigers had the last laugh, eliminating Cleveland in a Wild Card Series and forcing the Guardians to look ahead to 2026.
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Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz remain on leave amid a betting investigation as the World Series approaches. (David Dermer and Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn)
However, a big question mark still looms for next season. Will Clase and Ortiz be available?
On August 31, MLB extended the paid leave of Clase and Ortiz “until further notice as MLB continues its investigation.”
When asked if there was an update on the status of the pitchers, the league directed Pak Gazette Digital to its August statement.
Pak Gazette Digital asked the spokesperson how far along the investigation was or if there was an estimate of when it would conclude, and he did not provide any update.
The lack of an update comes two days before the start of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, where the biggest superstar of the Fall Classic, and arguably the sport, was embroiled in a betting controversy last year.
Cleveland Guardians reliever Emmanuel Clase pitches during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles on July 23, 2025 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
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In the end, it was ruled that Shohei Ohtani was actually a victim of fraud when his former performer, Ippei Mizuhara, stole millions of dollars from him to pay off gambling debts. Ohtani was quickly cleared of any wrongdoing, but three months later there is no word on the Guardians pitchers.
Ortiz’s investigation involved in-game prop betting on two pitches he threw in a game against the Seattle Mariners on June 15 and the St. Louis Cardinals on June 27. A betting integrity firm flagged the potential issue and referred it to the league.
Then, on June 27, more unusual betting action occurred with an Ortiz pitch in the top of the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. Once again, the bets were on a ball or a hit batter, and Ortiz proceeded to throw another pitch that the catcher couldn’t handle.
The firm noted unusual betting action on the first pitch thrown by Ortiz in the bottom of the second inning as a ball or a hitter hitter. Ortiz threw a slider to the ground away from the strike zone.
Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians pitches in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins in Cleveland on April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
At the time of his departure, Clase had a 3.23 ERA on the season. In 2024, it was a minuscule 0.61.
Both pitchers attempted to play in the Dominican Winter League but were reportedly suspended due to the investigation.
