Guardians pitchers out until further notice in gambling probe

The Cleveland Guardians are in the middle of a major off-field mess. Pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are now on extended paid leave as MLB investigates possible gambling violations.

This all started with a probe into suspicious betting patterns tied to two pitches thrown by Ortiz. Now, the focus has widened to include Clase, the team’s star closer. Neither player has faced formal discipline yet, but their sudden absences could really shake up the Guardians’ postseason hopes.

Suspicious Betting Activity Sparks MLB Probe

Everything kicked off when a sportsbook flagged some odd betting activity related to two specific pitches from Ortiz. Both happened in June—a first-pitch slider that missed badly against the Mariners on June 15, and another wild pitch versus the Cardinals on June 27. MLB decided those strange bets were enough to warrant a full-blown investigation.

Ortiz Removed from Play in Early July

Ortiz landed on leave July 3, just days after the incidents were flagged. The righty, who came over from Pittsburgh in the offseason, had struggled with consistency. He put up a 4-9 record and a 4.36 ERA across 16 starts before getting sidelined.

No one’s produced public evidence linking Ortiz to any wrongdoing, but MLB isn’t taking chances right now. There’s a lot of pressure on the league to protect the sport’s integrity.

All-Star Closer Emmanuel Clase Also Sidelined

Things escalated on July 28, when the Guardians’ most reliable bullpen arm, Emmanuel Clase, was also put on paid leave. Clase, famous for his nasty cutter and cool nerves, played a huge role in Cleveland’s late-inning success. After leading the league with 47 saves in 2024, he was cruising again this year with 24 saves and a 3.23 ERA before getting yanked from the roster.

League and Union Issue Joint Statement

On August 31, MLB and the players’ union put out a joint statement. Both pitchers will stay on nondisciplinary paid leave “until further notice.” They’ll keep getting paid, but they’re out of games and team activities while the investigation drags on.

It’s looking unlikely that either Ortiz or Clase will see the field again before the 2024 regular season ends.

Impact on the Guardians’ Playoff Push

The Guardians are 68-66 and just three games behind the Mariners for the last AL wild card spot. Losing two pitchers—especially Clase, who’s usually lights-out in the ninth—is a huge blow for a club trying to stay in the playoff hunt.

The bullpen’s depth is getting stretched thin. Manager Stephen Vogt has to scramble to find someone he trusts late in games without his star closer.

Team Moving Forward Without Key Arms

Ortiz’s absence hurts the rotation, but missing Clase really changes how the Guardians approach close games. Without his steady hand in the ninth, Cleveland’s stuck with a closer-by-committee situation. That could easily cost them in tight, late-season matchups.

Other pitchers will have to step up if the Guardians want to stay in the wild card race. It’s a tough spot—and honestly, who knows if they’ll pull it off?

Wider Implications for MLB

This case really highlights how much more closely professional sports leagues are watching for betting issues now that sports wagering is legal in so many places. If someone notices unusual betting activity—even if there’s no hard proof of wrongdoing—it gets taken seriously because it could mess with the integrity of the game.

• When bets look suspicious, investigations can start right away, just like what happened with Ortiz’s pitches.
• Teams use paid leave to take players out of the lineup without jumping to conclusions.
• Long absences can throw a wrench in postseason races and mess with a team’s rhythm.

For MLB, keeping the public’s trust is everything. Gambling scandals have cast long shadows over the sport before, and the league’s making it clear they won’t tolerate anything that threatens fair play.

Fans and folks around baseball are definitely watching for the next update. No one knows yet if this will end with formal punishment or quietly fade away, but it’s a sharp reminder: off-field drama can matter just as much as what happens on the diamond.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Guardians pitchers out ‘until further notice’ as part of gambling probe