Guardians' Luis Ortiz Subject Of MLB Gambling Investigation, Placed

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz is the topic of a Big league Baseball gambling examination and was put on non-disciplinary leave Thursday, two individuals with knowledge of the investigation informed The Associated Press.


The individuals spoke with the AP on condition of anonymity due to the nature of the investigation.


The investigation relates to in-game prop bets on 2 pitches tossed by Ortiz that received higher activity than normal during his starts at Seattle on June 15 and his recent outing versus St. Louis on June 27. The gambling activity on the pitches was flagged by a betting-integrity firm and forwarded to MLB.


ESPN reported the firm IC360 just recently likewise sent out an alert to sportsbook operators regarding Ortiz.


The Athletic was the very first to report that Ortiz's suspension was associated with gambling.


MLB said Ortiz's paid leave is through the end of the All-Star break, when gamers go back to their groups July 17 and games resume the following day. It can be extended if the investigation stays continuous.


Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis L. Ortiz tosses tot he Athletics throughout the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 21, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)


Chris Antonetti, Cleveland ´ s president of operations, stated before Thursday night's game at the Chicago Cubs that the group can continue to have contact with Ortiz, but he can't go into any of the Guardians' centers. Ortiz returned to Cleveland on Wednesday night.


Ortiz was slated to be the beginning pitcher for Thursday night ´ s series finale. Instead, left-hander Joey Cantillo was recalled from Triple-A Columbus. Cantillo is 1-0 with one save and a 3.81 ERA in 21 looks this season.


"We found out extremely little last night, but understood we required to get someone here today to begin today ´ s game, and that truly was our focus," Antonetti said. "A lot has come out today, and that ´ s even more details than we have.


"Our focus is we ´ ll let the investigative procedure play out. To the level Major League Baseball or anyone needs our support in that, we will certainly work together. But beyond that, there ´ s truly not much we can do."


Manager Stephen Vogt said he and Antonetti attended to the team about Ortiz's circumstance and attempted to respond to questions the very best they could.


It is another setback for a Guardians squad that has dropped a season-high six straight video games and is 9-18 considering that May 1.


"Honestly, when I got the news the other day I didn ´ t understand how to feel," Vogt said. "There ´ s a lot unknowns with this, however you understand what? Every group goes through misfortune, maybe different kinds, however this is a durable group. I ´ ve been through scenarios similar to this before in my career as a player, and what would I have wished to hear? How would I desire the supervisor to have reacted, which ´ s what I ´ m trying to do."


The 26-year old Ortiz is in his very first season with Cleveland after he was gotten in a trade with Pittsburgh last December. The right-hander is 4-9 with a 4.36 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 16 starts this season. The 9 losses are tied for the most in the American League.


In 4 big-league seasons, Ortiz is 16-22 with a 4.05 ERA and one save.


The investigation into Ortiz comes a little bit more than a year after MLB suspended five gamers for betting, consisting of a life time restriction for San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano. MLB stated Marcano positioned 387 baseball bets amounting to more than $150,000 with a legal sportsbook in 2022 and 2023.


Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly and three small leaguers - San Diego pitcher Jay Groome, Arizona pitcher and Philadelphia infielder José Rodríguez - gotten one-year suspensions.


Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired by Major League Baseball in February for sharing his legal sports betting accounts with a buddy who bet on baseball games and for intentionally erasing electronic messages relevant to the league ´ s investigation.


Freelance author Matt Carlson in Chicago contributed to this report.