Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, have been indicted on federal charges connected to an alleged sports gambling and game-fixing scheme, prosecutors announced Friday.
According to court documents unsealed in Brooklyn, the players are accused of conspiring with bettors to manipulate the outcomes of specific in-game “prop bets” — wagers on individual pitch results or player actions. Prosecutors allege that Clase and Ortiz accepted payments in exchange for deliberately throwing certain pitches or tipping bettors about upcoming plays.
The alleged scheme reportedly generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit winnings for gamblers, with the players receiving kickbacks. Both face multiple counts, including wire fraud conspiracy, sports bribery, and money-laundering conspiracy — charges that carry potential decades-long prison sentences.
Major League Baseball confirmed it has placed both pitchers on administrative leave while cooperating fully with federal investigators. The Guardians organization said it was “shocked and deeply disappointed” by the allegations.
The indictments come as professional sports leagues face growing scrutiny over legalized sports betting and its potential influence on competition integrity.
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