Guardians' Luis Ortiz Subject Of MLB Gambling Investigation, Placed
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz is the topic of a Major League Baseball gambling examination and was put on non-disciplinary leave Thursday, two people 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 examination.
The investigation is related to in-game prop bets on 2 pitches thrown by Ortiz that received higher activity than usual during his starts at Seattle on June 15 and his current getaway versus St. Louis on June 27. The betting activity on the pitches was flagged by a betting-integrity company and to MLB.
ESPN reported the firm IC360 recently likewise sent an alert to sportsbook operators regarding Ortiz.
The Athletic was the first to report that Ortiz's suspension was connected to betting.
MLB stated Ortiz's paid leave is through the end of the All-Star break, when players go back to their groups July 17 and video games resume the following day. It can be extended if the investigation 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 enter 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 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 found out very little last night, however understood we required to get someone here today to start today ´ s game, which really was our focus," Antonetti stated. "A lot has actually come out today, which ´ s even more details than we have.
"Our focus is we ´ ll let the investigative procedure play out. To the extent Major League Baseball or anybody requires our assistance in that, we will clearly work together. But beyond that, there ´ s really not much we can do."
Manager Stephen Vogt stated he and Antonetti dealt with the group about Ortiz's scenario and attempted to respond to questions the finest they could.
It is another obstacle for a Guardians team that has actually dropped a season-high 6 straight video games and is 9-18 since May 1.
"Honestly, when I got the news the other day I didn ´ t know how to feel," Vogt said. "There ´ s a lot unknowns with this, however you know what? Every team goes through hardship, maybe different kinds, however this is a resistant group. I ´ ve been through circumstances comparable to this before in my profession as a player, and what would I have wished to hear? How would I desire the manager to have reacted, and that ´ s what I ´ m trying to do."
The 26-year old Ortiz remains 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 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 examination into Ortiz comes a little bit more than a year after MLB suspended five gamers for gaming, consisting of a life time ban for San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano. MLB said Marcano placed 387 baseball bets totaling 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 gambling accounts with a good friend who bet on baseball games and for purposefully deleting electronic messages significant to the league ´ s examination.
Freelance writer Matt Carlson in Chicago contributed to this report.