Guardians receive important update on Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz's gambling investigation

Matt Sullivan

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Guardians receive important update on Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz's gambling investigation image

The Cleveland Guardians saw two of their pitchers get placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball in July for an investigation into alleged gambling.

Initially, both Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were placed on leave through August 31st, as MLB conducted its investigation. But, with that date approaching, the next steps were still up in the air.

But, as Francys Romero of beisbolfr.com reports, both Clase and Ortiz will be placed on leave for the remainder of the 2025 regular season. It's an important report, as it's the first update on their status since being placed on leave in July.

Clase and Ortiz Won't Pitch Again in 2025

The Guardians' pitching duo is under investigation for potential gambling involvement, allegedly in the Major Leagues. Earlier, both of their lockers were cleaned out in Cleveland, further signifying this outcome could come to pass.

With the serious nature of these investigations, it's not a surprise that both Clase and Ortiz will have their leave extended through the rest of the 2025 season.

It's been an ongoing investigation for Ortiz for well over a month, and for Clase, it has been a month since he was placed on leave. Both were on leave through August 31st, and now, for the rest of the 2025 season.

Before being placed on administrative leave, Clase was having a solid year as the Guardians' closer, with a 3.23 ERA in 48 games with 24 saves and 47 strikeouts. In 2024, Clase was third place in the AL Cy Young voting, with a 0.61 ERA in 74 appearances.

MORE: Guardians' 2021 decision coming back to haunt them amid losing skid

Ortiz, meanwhile, had a 4.36 ERA before going on leave at the start of July. Across his 16 starts for the Guardians in 2025, he was 4-9 with 96 strikeouts and 42 walks. His 2024 season was also his best, as he had a 3.32 ERA in 37 games and 15 starts.

While both had career-best 2024 seasons, they each took a step back in 2025. But, both Ortiz and Clase were still valuable pieces of the Guardians' pitching staff despite their slight regression from 2024.

Now, with this update from Romero, both Guardians pitchers' 2025 seasons are over, and their future in Major League Baseball is up in the air. But for now, as MLB conducts its investigation, both Clase and Ortiz will be on leave through the end of the 2025 season.

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Matt Sullivan

Matt Sullivan is a freelance writer for The Sporting News, predominantly covering MLB. Matt is a native of Pennsylvania and has worked with Athlon Sports, Last Word on Sports, and other outlets.