Guardians' Luis Ortiz Subject Of MLB Gambling Investigation, Placed

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


The individuals talked to the AP on condition of privacy due to the nature of the investigation.


The examination belongs to in-game prop bets on two pitches thrown by Ortiz that received greater activity than typical throughout his starts at Seattle on June 15 and his recent getaway against 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 company IC360 just recently also sent an alert to sportsbook operators relating to Ortiz.


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


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


Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis L. Ortiz throws toddler 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, however he can't go into any of the Guardians' centers. Ortiz returned to Cleveland on Wednesday night.


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


"We learned very little last night, however knew we needed to get somebody here today to start today ´ s video game, which actually was our focus," Antonetti stated. "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 anybody requires our assistance in that, we will obviously comply. But beyond that, there ´ s really very little we can do."


Manager Stephen Vogt said he and Antonetti dealt with the group about Ortiz's situation and attempted to address questions the very best they could.


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


"Honestly, when I got the news the other day I didn ´ t understand how to feel," Vogt stated. "There ´ s a lot unknowns with this, however you understand what? Every group goes through adversity, maybe different kinds, but this is a resistant group. I ´ ve been through scenarios similar to this before in my profession as a gamer, and what would I have wanted to hear? How would I want the supervisor to have responded, which ´ s what I ´ m trying to do."


The 26-year old Ortiz remains 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 nine 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 conserve.


The investigation into Ortiz comes a little bit more than a year after MLB suspended five gamers for gaming, consisting of a lifetime 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 3 small leaguers - San Diego pitcher Jay Groome, Arizona pitcher and Philadelphia infielder José Rodríguez - received 1 year suspensions.


Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired by Big league Baseball in February for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a pal who banked on baseball video games and for purposefully deleting electronic messages relevant to the league ´ s examination.


Freelance author Matt Carlson in Chicago added to this report.