Major League Baseball (MLB) has put Cleveland Guardians closer, Emmanuel Clase, on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of an ongoing inquiry into sports betting. This decision comes after a similar measure was enacted against Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz, marking the second case related to a Cleveland pitcher this summer.
According to MLB’s announcement, Clase will remain on leave until August 31, as agreed upon with the MLB Players Association. The league has stated, “We will refrain from further comments until the investigation is concluded.”
Clase, a three-time All-Star and the American League Reliever of the Year from the previous season, currently holds a 5-3 record with 24 saves and a 3.23 ERA over 48 games this year. He was seen as a significant trade asset leading up to Thursday’s trade deadline.
The Guardians released a statement acknowledging MLB’s decision, asserting, “We have been informed that no other players or club personnel are anticipated to be affected.”
The specific details surrounding the allegations against Clase remain undisclosed. It is also uncertain if the investigations into Clase and Ortiz are connected. The scrutiny pertains to questionable betting activity linked to two specific pitches thrown during matches against the Seattle Mariners on June 15 and the St. Louis Cardinals on June 27.
Both pitches were noted for missing the strike zone and bouncing towards the plate, which prompted alerts from a betting integrity monitoring firm that were subsequently shared with MLB.
Concerns Over Microbetting and Integrity
Ortiz’s situation has spotlighted microbetting—a wagering format that enables bets on individual plays or pitches. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has previously expressed concerns over the necessity of such betting options.
“Some types of bets seem unnecessary and particularly susceptible—especially those concerning isolated actions that don’t directly influence the game’s outcome,” he stated in the past.
An insider informed iGB that while betting operators generally restrict microbets to small amounts, organized syndicates could still exploit these bets. They suggested that MLB might contemplate advocating for regulations on microbetting, mirroring the NCAA’s efforts to prohibit college prop bets amid integrity issues in college athletics.
In New Jersey, Assemblyman Dan Hutchison has recently introduced legislation banning microbetting at licensed sportsbooks, citing concerns about the impact on sports integrity and problem gambling.
MLB’s Gambling History
Clase and Ortiz’s situations are part of a broader pattern of gambling-related disciplinary measures taken by MLB. In June of the previous year, San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime ban for placing 387 baseball bets totaling over $150,000. Four other players—Michael Kelly, Jay Groome, Andrew Saalfrank, and José Rodríguez—faced one-year suspensions.
This year, umpire Pat Hoberg was dismissed for sharing a legal sports betting account with a friend who had wagered on baseball and for deleting pertinent electronic messages during MLB’s investigation.
In another notable case, Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for embezzling over $16 million from Ohtani to fulfill gambling debts. MLB confirmed Ohtani was not involved in any wrongdoing.