Guardians Pitchers Clase and Ortiz on Indefinite Paid Leave Amid MLB Gambling Investigation

Major League Baseball (MLB) has extended the paid leaves of Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz indefinitely as the league continues its investigation into their potential involvement in gambling activities during games.

Investigation Details

Initially, Clase and Ortiz were set to be sidelined until at least August 31. However, MLB and the players’ union announced that they have agreed to keep the nondisciplinary paid leave in place “until further notice.”

Impact on the Team

The Guardians have refrained from commenting on the situation until the investigation concludes. With the regular season ending on September 28, it is likely that both pitchers will be unavailable for the final stretch.

Recently, the team cleared out their lockers, indicating that Clase and Ortiz may not return for the last month of the season. Ortiz, acquired from Pittsburgh in the offseason, was placed on paid leave on July 3, coinciding with his scheduled start against the Chicago Cubs.

Performance Before Leave

Reports suggest that MLB is investigating whether Ortiz influenced prop bets in games he pitched. His leave was originally set to end on July 17 but was subsequently extended. Before his leave, Ortiz had a record of 4-9 with a 4.36 ERA over 16 starts.

Clase, regarded as one of baseball’s elite closers, joined Ortiz on paid leave on July 28, shortly before the trade deadline. The Guardians anticipated receiving multiple offers for the right-hander, who led the American League with 47 saves last season. This year, Clase recorded 24 saves and held a 3.23 ERA.

Team’s Current Situation

Despite the absence of their star closer, the Guardians have managed to remain competitive in the wild-card race, with Cade Smith stepping up to assume closing duties.

Broader Context

This investigation into the actions of Cleveland’s pitchers follows MLB’s suspension of five players for gambling in June 2024, including a lifetime ban for San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.