Guardians' Luis Ortiz Subject Of MLB Gambling Investigation, Placed
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz is the topic of a Significant League Baseball betting examination and was put on Thursday, two people with knowledge of the examination informed The Associated Press.
The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the nature of the investigation.
The investigation relates to in-game prop bets on two pitches thrown by Ortiz that got greater activity than typical throughout his starts at Seattle on June 15 and his recent trip against St. Louis on June 27. The gambling activity on the pitches was flagged by a betting-integrity company and forwarded to MLB.
ESPN reported the firm IC360 recently also sent an alert to sportsbook operators relating to Ortiz.
The Athletic was the first to report that Ortiz's suspension was associated with gambling.
MLB stated 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 examination remains continuous.
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis L. Ortiz tosses tot he Athletics during 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 baseball operations, said before Thursday night's game at the Chicago Cubs that the group can continue to have contact with Ortiz, however he can't get in 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 very little last night, however knew we needed to get someone here today to begin today ´ s video game, which actually was our focus," Antonetti said. "A lot has actually come out today, which ´ s far more info than we have.
"Our focus is we ´ ll let the investigative procedure play out. To the level Big league Baseball or anyone needs our support in that, we will certainly cooperate. But beyond that, there ´ s truly not much we can do."
Manager Stephen Vogt stated he and Antonetti addressed the group about Ortiz's scenario and tried to respond to concerns the very best they could.
It is another obstacle for a Guardians team that has dropped a season-high six straight video games and is 9-18 considering that May 1.
"Honestly, when I got the news yesterday I didn ´ t know how to feel," Vogt said. "There ´ s a lot unknowns with this, but you know what? Every team goes through adversity, maybe different kinds, but this is a resistant group. I ´ ve been through situations comparable to this before in my profession as a player, and what would I have wished to hear? How would I want the manager to have responded, and that ´ s what I ´ m trying to do."
The 26-year old Ortiz remains in his first season with Cleveland after he was acquired 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 connected for the most in the American League.
In four big-league seasons, Ortiz is 16-22 with a 4.05 ERA and one save.
The investigation into Ortiz comes a bit more than a year after MLB suspended 5 gamers for gambling, consisting of a life time ban 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 3 minor leaguers - San Diego pitcher Jay Groome, Arizona pitcher and Philadelphia infielder José Rodríguez - gotten 1 year suspensions.
Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired by Major League Baseball in February for sharing his legal sports betting accounts with a friend who banked on baseball video games and for intentionally erasing electronic messages significant to the league ´ s investigation.
Freelance author Matt Carlson in Chicago added to this report.
