Emmanuel Clase Placed on Leave as MLB Expands Cleveland Guardians Sports Betting Probe

^{Clase is the second Cleveland Guardians' player to be placed on paid leave amid the MLB's ongoing investigation into microbetting. (Photo: David Smith / Sipa USA)}

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through at least Aug. 31 on Monday, making him the second Guardians pitcher impacted by Major League Baseball’s ongoing investigation into sports betting irregularities. 

Clase joins starting pitcher Luis Ortiz, who was placed on paid leave on July 3 after MLB became aware of unusual wagering on two pitches he threw last month.

No Details on Clase’s Involvement in MLB Probe

The investigation began after there was unusually high betting on two pitches thrown by Ortiz on June 15 and June 27. In both cases, the starter threw a ball well out of the strike zone to begin an inning. Unusual wagering on those pitches was flagged by betting-integrity firms, which then alerted MLB to the situation.

It’s unclear exactly what connection Clase has to the investigation. Both Clase and Ortiz hail from the Dominican Republic and are known to be close friends.

Clase has been one of the best closers in the majors over the past four seasons. In 2025, he has collected 24 saves while posting a 5-3 record with a 3.23 ERA. 

The Guardians are currently 52-54 on the year, sitting nine games behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central Division. While Cleveland’s playoff chances were already slim, the Clase's removal may be a devastating blow to the team.

“I’m not happy. This stinks,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told reporters before a Monday night loss to the Colorado Rockies. “It’s a different part of our game now because it’s legal. Two of our guys are being investigated – and it hurts. It’s an unfortunate situation.”

According to the Guardians, the franchise has been informed that “no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted.”

Microbetting Adds to MLB’s Gambling Woes

Like other professional sports leagues, Major League Baseball has been forced to deal with sports betting more directly as states across the country have legalized and regulated the practice. 

In 2024, San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime ban after placing more than 300 bets on baseball, including some on the Padres while he was still on the MLB roster. Four other players received one-year suspensions last year for more generally betting on baseball.

There have also been other gambling scandals in the sport. The most high-profile was that of Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, who pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud charges after stealing millions from the Los Angeles Dodgers star to pay his gambling debts. Mizuhara – who didn’t appear to bet on baseball – was sentenced to 57 months in prison for his crimes. MLB umpire Pat Hoberg was also fired by the league after sharing a legal sports betting account with a friend who bet on baseball.

The current situation involving Ortiz and Clase highlights another potential integrity issue for professional sports leagues: microbetting, or the practice of placing bets on the outcome of a single in-game event. 

These wagers are often seen as more vulnerable to fixing, as they often cover the outcomes of a single pitch in baseball or one point in tennis. Sports players may be convinced that it is easier to alter the result of a single event, compared to significantly impacting the overall outcome of a game or match. Those concerns have led some, such as New Jersey Assemblyman Dan Hutchison (D-Camden), to propose legislation that would ban such wagers at regulated sportsbooks.