Pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians have been indicted on federal charges for allegedly participating in a scheme to rig baseball games by throwing predetermined types and speeds of pitches, enabling bettors to win more than $400,000 in prop bets. Prosecutors contend the pair accepted bribes and kickbacks while using cell-phone communications during games to tip off accomplices.
The indictment details how Clase allegedly began the scheme in May 2023 and Ortiz joined in June 2025, including instances in which they were paid thousands of dollars each for intentionally throwing balls or pitches out of the strike zone. Ortiz was arrested in Boston while Clase remains at large; both have been put on paid leave by MLB since July.
Major League Baseball has confirmed its cooperation with law enforcement, and the scandal marks one of the most serious sports-betting investigations in recent U.S. history. If convicted, the players face decades of prison time and likely lifetime bans from the sport—raising broader questions about the integrity of the game and oversight of betting in professional athletics.
