Federal Prosecutors Indict Pair of Cleveland Guardian Pitchers

The MLB world was rocked over the weekend.

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were both indicted by the US Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York. They are both charged with participating in a betting scandal involving spot-fixing for certain pitches. Ortiz was arrested in Boston, but Clase has not yet been taken into custody.

If guilty, the pitchers could face up to 60 years in federal prison.

Micro-Betting at the Center of a Scandal

The pair of pitchers is accused of participating in a scheme with a group of co-conspirators.

It began with Clase in May 2023 when he began providing a group of bettors with inside information. He let them know which specific pitches from an appearance would be a ball, allowing his co-conspirators to cash in. Prosecutors allege he recruited Ortiz to join the scheme last June, shortly before a federal investigation was launched. 

This form of wagering, known as micro-betting, has been coming under fire in 2025. The NBA’s Terry Rozier is accused of a similar scandal involving this controversial bet type, prompting state lawmakers across the US to call for its ban. 

Why This Scandal Hits Harder than the NBA’s

Many sports fans may not know Luis Ortiz, but Emmanuel Clase was a three-time All-Star and closer for the Guardians. That means he was almost exclusively pitching at the end of close games, making each of his pitches count far more than Ortiz's. 

Throwing one ball in the dirt may not seem like a big deal, but for a closer, it could change the entire game. Given that these pitches were pre-determined, Clase would have to throw a ball regardless of the situation. That can change not just an at-bat, but also lead to runs being scored. That affects far more bettors, who become victims of the betting scheme. 

While the NBA’s scandal was ugly, it involved a coach and player who were members of bad teams. That isn’t the case here, with the Guardians winning the AL Central the last two seasons. That makes their games count more, impacting the playoff field and countless other MLB bets. 

Will the Guardians Face Consequences?

Since PASPA was overturned in 2018, prosecutions for betting scandals have focused on the players involved, not their teams. However, there is reason to believe that may not be the case for this one.

The Guardians could face blowback from the betting scheme, given Clase’s recruitment of Ortiz. This means that Cleveland players were openly talking about spot-fixing, and the closer was able to convince his teammate without the team being any the wiser. That is a bad look, especially if it is revealed that the All-Star also recruited other players.

Teams can’t be expected to know every detail of their players’ lives, but the fact remains that this scheme unfolded right under their noses. Given the rising concerns over scandals like these, this could lead the MLB or prosecutors to go after the Guardians, sending a clear message to other pro teams.