Guardians Pitcher Emmanuel Clase Placed on Leave Due to Sports Betting Investigation

• Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary leave as part of an MLB sports betting investigation
• Clase joins Guardian pitcher Luis Ortiz on the non-disciplinary leave list
• Both are being investigated for incidents tied to sports betting

The second Cleveland Guardians pitcher in the last month has been placed on non-disciplinary leave as part of a Major League Baseball sports betting investigation.

The Cleveland Guardians today announced closer Emmanuel Clase had been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave by MLB. According to a team statement, Clase is being placed on leave due to an MLB sports betting investigation.

Clase is the second members of the Guardians pitching staff to be included in the MLB’s sports betting investigation, joining starting pitcher Luis Ortiz, who was placed on non-disciplinary leave on July 3.

Two Pitchers in One Month

Clase, a star reliever for the Guardians and a player many expected to be moved by the club prior to the July 31 trade deadline, will be placed on leave through at least Aug. 31 as per an agreement with the Players Association.

In their released statement, the Guardians noted that no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted by the investigation.

“The Guardians have been notified by Major League Baseball that as part of their sports betting investigation Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave per an agreemnt with the Players Association. We have been informed that no additional players or Club personnel are expected to be impacted. The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time, and will respect the league’s confidential investigative process as we continue to fully cooperate,” the club said in a released statement on X.

MLB Sports Betting Investigation Continues

Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave on July 3. His leave was scheduled to end on July 18, but was officially extended to Aug. 31.

A firm that monitors betting activity reported suspicious wagering on two separate pitches thrown by Ortiz during two games he started. No details have yet been released as to why Clase is now being included in the investigation.

The firm noted suspicious betting volumes on two separate pitches during his June 15 and June 27 starts against the Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals, respectively. Both were balls and thrown well outside the strike zone.

Larger than normal amounts of money were placed on whether Ortiz would throw a strike or ball in a certain inning.