Ex-Guardians Pitchers Face Trial Over Alleged Betting Fraud

Former Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz began trial in Brooklyn on Monday, accused of conspiring with gamblers to manipulate individual pitches for betting wins. Prosecutors allege the pair supplied information about pitch speed and outcomes, helping two bettors from the Dominican Republic win at least $460,000; one report says the pitchers received about $26,000 in kickbacks. Clase allegedly began sharing pitch information in 2023 and brought Ortiz into the scheme in 2025. Both have pleaded not guilty and are on unpaid leave, while their lawyers say the pitchers were varying pitches strategically rather than colluding with gamblers. The monthlong trial includes charges ranging from wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies to bribery affecting sporting contests, and is expected to feature testimony from baseball players and executives.