MLB stars face 65 years in prison on match-fixing charges
Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Orti have been charged in relation to an alleged betting scheme, influencing games to benefit gamblers.
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office has charged Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz with multiple counts of manipulating bets on their own performances in Major League Baseball.
Prosecutors allege the two players intentionally influenced game outcomes to benefit gamblers connected to them. If convicted, they could face up to 65 years in prison.
According to a 23-page indictment, unsealed on Sunday, Clase and Ortiz participated in a scheme where associates placed bets on specific pitches — strikes or balls — during MLB games. Investigators say Clase joined the operation first in 2023, with Ortiz following shortly after.
Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted for rigging bets on pitches in MLB games.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) November 9, 2025
Ortiz was allegedly paid $5,000 for throwing an intentional ball June 15 and Clase paid $5,000 for facilitating it, then did it again two weeks later for $7,000 apiece. pic.twitter.com/p8bS53pSvM
The indictment cites a June 15 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, during which Ortiz allegedly threw a deliberate ball in exchange for $5,000, while Clase was paid the same amount for arranging the play. Two weeks later, both players reportedly earned $7,000 for repeating the scheme.
What next for Ortiz and Clase?
Both pitchers have been on paid administrative leave since July. Ortiz was placed on leave July 3 and Clase followed on July 28. As of August 31, MLB confirmed that both remain sidelined indefinitely pending further investigation.
Major League Baseball, which enforces some of the strictest gambling rules in professional sports, issued a statement on Sunday: “MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process. We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing.”
The case underscores MLB’s zero-tolerance stance on gambling violations — a policy that has kept legends like Pete Rose out of the Hall of Fame for decades.
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