Both players face multiple felony counts, including wire fraud and bribery conspiracy.
WASHINGTON — Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase and right-handed starter Luis Ortiz have been indicted on federal charges in connection with an alleged gambling scheme involving manipulated baseball bets, the Department of Justice said.
Both players face charges of wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy.
Ortiz has been arrested in Boston, while Clase is not in custody. Prosecutors said the two conspired with others to influence individual pitches for bettors’ gain.
Clase’s alleged misconduct dates back to May 2023, while Ortiz’s actions began in June 2025, according to the indictment. Prosecutors allege Clase’s actions benefited gamblers by about $400,000, while Ortiz’s involvement netted co-conspirators roughly $60,000.
Both players could face up to 65 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
The MLB confirmed it referred the matter to federal law enforcement and has cooperated with the investigation. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” the league said in a statement to ESPN.
Prosecutors said Clase and Ortiz “agreed in advance with their co-conspirators to throw specific types of pitches and speeds of pitches.” In some cases, the players allegedly received bribes and kickback payments for “rigging pitches.”
Ortiz was allegedly paid $5,000 for intentionally throwing a ball on June 15, with Clase receiving the same amount for assisting, according to the indictment documents. The pair allegedly repeated the scheme on June 27, earning $7,000 each.
Clase last pitched on July 26 and appeared in 48 games this season before being placed on administrative leave amid MLB’s sports betting investigation.
Ortiz’s case reportedly originated from a betting-integrity firm flagging two pitches that drew unusually high wagers tied to specific outcomes, which were then achieved, ESPN reported. Ortiz was also put on leave in July.
While sports betting has been legalized across much of the United States, MLB rules prohibit players from betting on baseball at any level. In 2024, MLB issued lifetime bans and suspensions for several players caught wagering on games.