Guardians Pitchers Indicted in Betting Scheme

Cleveland's star closer and teammate took bribes to throw pitches for gamblers. In the high-stakes

world of Major League Baseball, trust hinges on every pitch. But in 2025,

Cleveland Guardians ace closer Emmanuel Clase—a three-time All-Star—and teammate Luis L.

Ortiz shattered that trust, indicted for a brazen scheme to rig pitches for sports bettors.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn charged them with wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering

conspiracies, alleging they manipulated games for bribes as low as $5,000 per pitch.

Clase's involvement began in May 2023, prosecutors say. He texted co-conspirators during innings,

agreeing to throw balls—often first-pitch dirt offerings well outside the strike zone—to hit prop