Two pitchers from the Cleveland Guardians are facing serious allegations related to a sports gambling investigation. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn and the FBI announced on Sunday that Luis Leandro Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase conspired with sports bettors to manipulate their pitching in order to benefit from illegal wagers.

Luis Ortiz was arrested on Sunday at Logan Airport in Boston. Emmanuel Clase, who is also implicated in the scheme, has not yet been taken into custody. According to the indictment, the conspiracy began in 2023, with the pitchers coordinating with bettors on specific pitches during Major League Baseball games.

The indictment details how bettors placed prop bets worth hundreds of thousands of dollars based on inside information they received from the pitchers. Prosecutors stated that bettors wagered on the speed and type of Clase’s pitches, often coordinating with him during games. Investigators noted that Clase frequently threw these allegedly rigged pitches as the first pitch of an at-bat. To ensure certain pitches were called as balls, he reportedly threw many pitches in the dirt, far outside the strike zone.

In return for their actions, Clase received bribes and kickbacks. The indictment cites multiple instances of rigged pitches, including one during a game against the New York Mets. Overall, Clase's actions allegedly led to his co-conspirators winning at least $400,000 in fraudulent wagers.

Luis Ortiz is accused of joining the scheme in 2025. The indictment claims he agreed to throw balls instead of strikes in two games in exchange for bribes. Specifically, before a game on June 15, 2025, Ortiz allegedly coordinated with his co-conspirators to throw a ball on a designated pitch for a $5,000 bribe.

The indictment states, "Through this scheme, the defendants defrauded betting platforms, deprived Major League Baseball and the Cleveland Guardians of their honest services, illegally enriched themselves and their co-conspirators, misled the public, and betrayed America's pastime."

In July, Clase, recognized as one of the league's top closers, was placed on non-disciplinary leave until August 31 due to his involvement in the investigation. Ortiz had been placed on the same leave weeks earlier. This investigation into MLB betting comes on the heels of a recent indictment involving three current and former NBA coaches and players accused of participating in an illegal gambling scheme.

This story is still developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.