It’s been nearly two months since Major League Baseball began investigating Cleveland Guardians’ pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase for alleged gambling violations.
Ortiz was placed on “non-disciplinary paid leave” on July 3 after throwing a pair of pitches that were flagged by a betting integrity firm for unusual gambling activity. On July 28, Clase was also placed on non-disciplinary paid leave for alleged sports betting.
And that’s where the case stands, with no end in sight. Forbes’ Bernie Pleskoff is frustrated, and he calls out MLB’s lengthy investigation in a recent article, urging the league to “make a decision.”
MLB’s gambling investigation
First, let’s go over the rules.
MLB’s Rule 21 prohibits any “player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee” from betting on baseball. Penalties range from one-year suspensions to permanent ineligibility, with the latter being imposed on players who bet on games they are directly involved in.
The allegations surrounding Ortiz and Clase are said to revolve around prop bets. The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) has also joined MLB’s gambling probe, meaning the pitchers could potentially face legal charges.
Ortiz and Clase are still on leave as the investigation continues with minimal updates. Pleskoff isn’t happy about that.
“Either Ortiz and/or Clase did or did not bet on baseball games,” he writes. “Either they did or did not influence betting decisions based upon how they threw pitches in games.
“If it is this difficult to prove Ortiz and Clase bet on baseball, is it fair to let them wait indefinitely for a decision on their fate? The Major League Baseball investigation into alleged gambling violations by Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase has gone on far too long.”
Pleskoff also complains about how the lengthy probe has negatively impacted Cleveland’s season. The Guardians are 2.5 games out of the last AL Wild Card spot without their All-Star closer, who’s recorded more than 40 saves in each of his last three seasons (2022-24).
That doesn’t seem fair to Pleskoff, especially if Ortiz and Clase are later cleared of wrongdoing.