Guardians' Luis Ortiz Subject Of MLB Gambling Investigation, Placed

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz is the topic of a Major League Baseball betting examination and was put on non-disciplinary leave Thursday, 2 individuals with knowledge of the examination told The Associated Press.


Individuals spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the nature of the investigation.


The examination relates to in-game prop bets on two pitches thrown by Ortiz that received greater activity than typical during his starts at Seattle on June 15 and his current trip against St. Louis on June 27. The gaming activity on the pitches was flagged by a betting-integrity company and forwarded to MLB.


ESPN reported the firm IC360 recently likewise sent an alert to sportsbook operators concerning Ortiz.


The Athletic was the first to report that was associated with gaming.


MLB said Ortiz's paid leave is through completion of the All-Star break, when players return to their teams July 17 and video games resume the following day. It can be extended if the examination remains continuous.


Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis L. Ortiz tosses kid he Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball video 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 video game at the Chicago Cubs that the team can continue to have contact with Ortiz, but he can't go into any of the Guardians' facilities. Ortiz returned to Cleveland on Wednesday night.


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


"We learned really little last night, however understood we needed to get someone here today to begin today ´ s game, which actually was our focus," Antonetti said. "A lot has actually come out today, which ´ s even more information than we have.


"Our focus is we ´ ll let the investigative procedure play out. To the level Major League Baseball or anyone requires our support because, we will undoubtedly work together. But beyond that, there ´ s actually very little we can do."


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


It is another obstacle for a Guardians squad that has dropped a season-high 6 straight games and is 9-18 because May 1.


"Honestly, when I got the news the other day I didn ´ t know how to feel," Vogt said. "There ´ s so much unknowns with this, but you know what? Every group goes through adversity, maybe various kinds, but this is a durable group. I ´ ve been through scenarios similar to this before in my profession as a gamer, and what would I have wished to hear? How would I want the manager to have responded, which ´ s what I ´ m trying to do."


The 26-year old Ortiz is in his very 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 4 big-league seasons, Ortiz is 16-22 with a 4.05 ERA and one conserve.


The examination into Ortiz comes a little more than a year after MLB suspended 5 players for gaming, including a life time ban for San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano. MLB said 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 minor leaguers - San Diego pitcher Jay Groome, Arizona pitcher and Philadelphia infielder José Rodríguez - received 1 year suspensions.


Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired by Major League Baseball in February for sharing his legal sports betting accounts with a pal who banked on baseball games and for intentionally deleting electronic messages significant to the league ´ s examination.


Freelance writer Matt Carlson in Chicago added to this report.