The Cleveland Guardians are going through an intense betting scandal that has rocked MLB, too. Two MLB stars, who were with the Guardians, have come under scrutiny in a federal sports betting investigation. They are accused of participating in a plan to set up MLB games.

The Guardians’ stars are Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. This allocation has sent shockwaves through the league and the fans and raised concerns related to oversight and integrity in sports.

MLB insider, Jeff Passon, posted, “Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted by prosecutors in Brooklyn on a host of charges related to a scheme to rig bets on pitches thrown in MLB games. Ortiz was arrested in Boston earlier today. Clase is not currently in custody.”

Passon’s post on Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase confirmed the intensity of the situation and tied the two stars to the federal investigation. Passon also added, “Prosecutors allege that Luis Ortiz was paid $5,000 for throwing an intentional ball June 15 and Emmanuel Clase given $5,000 for facilitating it. They did it again, according to the indictment, June 27. The payment for each on that pitch was $7,000 apiece”. Prosecutors reveal that the stars partnered with gamblers. The gamblers placed live bets, where the stars threw balls intentionally instead of striking and this way they manipulated in-game wagers.

Federal officers highlighted that while this gambling event has its resemblance to current high-profile betting scandals of the NBA. That scandal is linked to Damon Jones. However, MLB has not commented on this topic yet.

While the scandal related to Clase and Ortiz continues to unfold, another legal twist has added more drama to the debate.

Guardians outcast battles league over winter ban

The situation has taken another turn when Clase filed a lawsuit against LIDOM of the Dominican Republic. This lawsuit was filed after being banned from playing winter ball for Estrellas Orientales. Clase was on non-disciplinary leave, still thought to stay active. MLB and the Guardians also refused to give permission for Clase to play in the Venezuelan Winter League. And it just highlights that a decision on Clase’s fate could be imminent. However, this denial pointed out that MLB could be getting prepared for disciplinary action as a reaction to the gambling probe.

Adding to the tension, sources revealed that Clase’s legal move targets both LIDOM and its president, Vitelio Mejía, accusing them of unfairly blocking his participation. Interestingly, several former Guardians players, containing Sandy León and Zach Plesac, continue to play in Venezuela alongside Tucupita Marcano, who was banned for life due to betting on Pirates games. This parallel has fueled speculation that Clase’s suspension could soon become official. Regardless of the investigation’s outcome, the stain of these allegations may follow him for years, much like how the 2017 Astros scandal still shadows players like George Springer today.

The Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase betting scandal has not only shaken the Guardians but also raised serious concerns about the integrity of MLB. As investigations continue and legal actions unfold, both players face uncertain futures. One thing is clear — trust, once broken in baseball, takes years to rebuild.