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Cleveland Guardians’ Luis Ortiz under gambling investigation
Major League Baseball (MLB) is investigating Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz after several pitches received unusual gambling activity.
Betting-integrity firm IC360 sent an alert to sportsbook operators regarding Ortiz in June. The alert mentioned Ortiz’s first pitches in innings to be a ball or a hit batter in two games: June 15 against the Seattle Mariners and June 27 against the St. Louis Cardinals. In both the bottom of the second inning against the Mariners and the top of the third inning against the Cardinals, Ortiz threw a first-pitch slider that was well outside the strike zone.
The alert identified bets in Ohio, New York, and New Jersey on Ortiz’s first pitches. Betting on the result of first pitches is allowed by some sportsbooks, as such stakes are usually referred to as microbets.
MLB has placed Ortiz on “non-disciplinary paid leave” through July 17. If the investigation remains open, the leave may extend.
The Guardians team shared in a statement:
“The Guardians have been notified that Luis Ortiz has been placed on leave per an agreement with the Players Association due to an ongoing league investigation. The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time and will respect the league’s confidential investigative process.”
Ortiz’s leave comes in a difficult time for the Guardians, who have lost six consecutive games to drop to 40-44. While Cleveland remains in second place in the American League Central, it trails first-place Detroit by 12½ games.
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