MLB Caps Pitch-Level Bets Following Indictment of Two Guardians Pitchers in Game-Rigging Case

Under the new rules, wagers on “pitch-level markets” are now capped at $200 and excluded from parlays across all MLB-authorized sportsbooks. These restrictions directly address the type of betting activity Cleveland relievers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz allegedly manipulated to influence hundreds of thousands of dollars in wagers.

The league confirmed the restrictions affect sportsbooks representing 98% of the country’s betting markets.

New Betting Restrictions Take Effect Immediately

“Effective immediately, all MLB Authorized Gaming Operators will cap wagers on pitch-level markets at $200 and exclude those bets from parlays,” the league said in a statement.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred described the limits as a safeguard “intended to mitigate integrity risks, and maintain the transparency and data access benefits that the regulated sports betting market provides.”

The investigation began after betting platforms and MLB noticed unusual betting activity during games when the two pitchers were on the mound. The league contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process.

Most Serious Baseball Gambling Case Since Pete Rose

The allegations against Clase and Ortiz represent the most severe gambling-related charges in baseball since Pete Rose agreed to a lifetime ban for betting on baseball in 1989. Legal experts suggest the case could accelerate the adoption of AI-driven fraud detection tools across professional leagues to identify suspicious actions in real-time.

Federal Charges and Legal Defense

Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year with a $4.5 million salary in 2025, and Ortiz, both from the Dominican Republic, face multiple federal charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. Both players have denied any wrongdoing.

“There is no credible evidence Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning. Luis looks forward to fighting these charges in court.”

Chris Georgalis, attorney for Luis Ortiz

Ortiz’s legal team disputed the indictment’s findings, stating that “Luis’ payments and other transfers of money between him and individuals in the Dominican Republic were for lawful activities.” The defense argues that “the indictment completely lacks any alleged evidence connecting Luis to these alleged bettors or demonstrating any purposeful involvement in a scheme.”

Clase’s lawyer, Michael J. Ferrara, stated that his client “is innocent of all charges and looks forward to clearing his name in court.”

Details of the Alleged Scheme

The indictment alleges the pitchers conspired with co-conspirators to predetermine pitches in MLB games, allowing bettors to place fraudulent wagers. Clase’s involvement allegedly began in 2023, with prosecutors stating he initially provided information about his pitches to bettors but didn’t ask for payoffs until 2025.

Prosecutors claim bettors won at least $460,000 on rigged pitches thrown by both players. According to the indictment, Clase coordinated with bettors to rig proposition bets on specific pitch types and speeds, often throwing rigged pitches on the first pitch of an at-bat. To ensure certain pitches were called as balls, he allegedly threw many of them in the dirt, well outside the strike zone.

Specific Incidents Detailed in Indictment

The indictment cites several specific rigged pitches:

May 19, 2023: A 98.5 mph cutter thrown low and inside to the New York Mets’ Starling Marte, with bettors allegedly winning approximately $27,000.

June 3, 2023: An 89.4 mph slider to Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers that bounced well short of home plate, generating approximately $38,000 in winnings.

June 7, 2023: Another 89.4 mph slider that resulted in approximately $68,000 in winnings for bettors.

May 28, 2025: In a notable incident, bettors wagered approximately $4,000 that a specific pitch by Clase would be a ball. However, the pitch appeared to be out of the strike zone, but the batter swung and missed for a strike. According to the indictment, approximately 20 minutes after the bettor lost the wager, the bettor sent Clase a text message with a gif image of a man hanging himself with toilet paper. Even though the Cleveland Guardians won the game, approximately 10 minutes later, Clase responded with a gif image of a sad puppy dog face.

In one instance, Clase allegedly invited a bettor to a game against the Boston Red Sox in April and spoke with him by phone just before taking the mound. Four minutes later, the bettor and his associates won $11,000 on a wager that Clase would throw a certain pitch slower than 97.95 mph.

Ortiz’s Alleged Participation

Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in June 2025, agreeing in advance to throw balls instead of strikes on specific pitches in exchange for bribes and kickbacks.

June 15, 2025: Ortiz allegedly agreed to throw his first pitch of the second inning for a ball in exchange for $5,000, with Clase receiving an additional $5,000 for arranging the rigged pitch. Bettors won at least $60,000 from pitches thrown by Ortiz.

June 27, 2025: Ortiz allegedly agreed to throw the first pitch of the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals for a ball in exchange for $7,000, with Clase again receiving $7,000 for arranging it. Bank security footage captured Clase withdrawing $50,000 in cash and providing $15,000 to a co-conspirator, who used the money to wager on Ortiz’s rigged pitch during the game. The bettors placed $18,000 on the pitch, which was thrown far outside the strike zone.

Players Placed on Leave

Both players have been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave for the 2025 MLB season. Ortiz, 26, was arrested Sunday morning at Boston Logan International Airport by the FBI and appeared in federal court in Boston on Monday, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell released him on a $500,000 bond, restricted his travel to the Boston area, and required him to surrender his passport. Clase, 27, is currently not in U.S. custody.

Broader Pattern of Sports Betting Cases

The indictments follow a series of similar federal gambling cases in professional sports, including arrests of NBA figures Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, and Damon Jones last October. Both the MLB and NBA investigations are being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Brooklyn.

U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. stated: “Professional athletes hold a position of trust—not only with their teammates and their professional leagues, but with fans who believe in fair play. As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches. In doing so, the defendants deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services. They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed. And they betrayed America’s pastime.”

If convicted on all charges, Clase and Ortiz each 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.

Source: Major League Baseball