Guardians' Luis Ortiz Subject Of MLB Gambling Investigation, Placed

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz is the subject of a Significant League Baseball gambling investigation and was put on non-disciplinary leave Thursday, 2 people with knowledge of the investigation informed The Associated Press.


The individuals 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 tossed by Ortiz that received higher activity than normal throughout his starts at Seattle on June 15 and his recent trip against St. Louis on June 27. The betting activity on the pitches was flagged by a betting-integrity firm and forwarded to MLB.


ESPN reported the firm IC360 recently also sent an alert to sportsbook operators regarding Ortiz.


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


MLB said Ortiz's paid leave is through completion 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 ongoing.


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 game at the Chicago Cubs that the group can continue to have contact with Ortiz, but he can't enter any of the Guardians' centers. Ortiz returned to on Wednesday night.


Ortiz was slated to be the beginning 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 looks this season.


"We discovered very little last night, however knew we needed to get someone here today to begin today ´ s video game, and that truly was our focus," Antonetti stated. "A lot has actually come out today, and that ´ s far more info than we have.


"Our focus is we ´ ll let the investigative procedure play out. To the degree Big league Baseball or anybody needs our support in that, we will certainly work together. But beyond that, there ´ s actually very little we can do."


Manager Stephen Vogt stated he and Antonetti resolved the team about Ortiz's situation and tried to respond to questions the best they could.


It is another problem for a Guardians team that has actually dropped a season-high 6 straight games and is 9-18 considering that May 1.


"Honestly, when I got the news the other day I didn ´ t know how to feel," Vogt stated. "There ´ s so much unknowns with this, however you understand what? Every team goes through difficulty, perhaps various kinds, however this is a resistant group. I ´ ve been through scenarios comparable to this before in my career as a gamer, and what would I have wished to hear? How would I desire the supervisor to have responded, and that ´ s what I ´ m attempting to do."


The 26-year old Ortiz is in his 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 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 investigation into Ortiz comes a little more than a year after MLB suspended five gamers for gaming, including a lifetime restriction for San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano. MLB stated Marcano put 387 baseball bets totaling 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 one-year suspensions.


Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired by Major 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 significant to the league ´ s examination.


Freelance author Matt Carlson in Chicago added to this report.