Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz indicted for pitch rigging - ESPN

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were charged with fraud, conspiracy and bribery stemming from an alleged scheme to rig individual pitches that led to bettors winning hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to an indictment unsealed by federal prosecutors Sunday.

Ortiz was arrested Sunday morning in Boston and will appear in court Monday, according to prosecutors, while Clase is not in custody.

Prosecutors at the Eastern District of New York, the Brooklyn-based United States Attorney's office that levied similar charges against NBA player Terry Rozier and multiple coaches in late October, said in the indictment Clase arranged with a bettor as early as May 2023 to throw specific pitches for balls so the bettor could place prop bets and profit. Ortiz, prosecutors said, joined the scheme in June 2025, and between the two, bettors won at least $450,000 wagering on their pitches, while Clase and Ortiz were given kickbacks for their participation.

Prosecutors said each pitcher could face up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud conspiracy, 20 years for honest services wire fraud conspiracy, 20 years for money laundering conspiracy and five years for conspiracy to influence sporting events by bribery.

Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time Reliever of the Year, and Ortiz were placed on non-disciplinary paid leave by Major League Baseball in July after betting-integrity firms flagged irregular wagering on a pair of pitches thrown by Ortiz in June.

In a statement to ESPN, Major League Baseball said: «MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process. We are aware of the indictment and today's arrest, and our investigation is