The Cleveland Guardians find themselves navigating turbulent waters as their starting pitcher Luis Ortiz has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave amid a Major League Baseball investigation into gambling activities. The announcement came on July 3, 2025, just hours before Ortiz was slated to start against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. This move has sent ripples through the Guardians' organization and the wider baseball community, highlighting the ongoing challenges baseball faces with gambling integrity.
Ortiz, a 26-year-old right-hander from San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic, has been a key part of the Guardians' rotation since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates during the offseason in a three-team trade. In his first season with Cleveland, Ortiz has made 16 starts, posting a 4-9 record with a 4.36 ERA. Despite showing promising strikeout numbers—averaging more than a strikeout per inning—Ortiz has struggled with control, walking 4.3 batters per nine innings, a figure notably higher than his career average of 3.9.
The investigation centers on unusual betting activity linked to two of Ortiz’s pitches during games in June 2025. According to reports from ESPN and other sources, a betting-integrity firm known as IC360 flagged two specific first-pitch sliders thrown by Ortiz that were significantly outside the strike zone. These pitches occurred on June 15 against the Seattle Mariners and on June 27 versus the St. Louis Cardinals.
In the June 15 game, Ortiz threw a slider low and away to Mariners’ Randy Arozarena to lead off the bottom of the second inning. This pitch resulted in a walk and preceded a five-run inning for Seattle. Similarly, on June 27, Ortiz’s first pitch of the third inning to Cardinals’ Pedro Pagés bounced in the batter’s box and went to the backstop, leading to a home run and a three-run inning. The betting firm alerted sportsbooks in Ohio, New York, and New Jersey, noting unusual wagers on microbets—bets placed on the outcome of specific pitches, such as whether the pitch would be a ball or hit-by-pitch.
Major League Baseball has placed Ortiz on non-disciplinary paid leave through the end of the All-Star break, approximately July 17, 2025. This arrangement was negotiated between the league and the MLB Players Association. While on leave, Ortiz is not permitted to enter any Guardians facilities but can maintain contact with the team. Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti confirmed the team’s cooperation with the ongoing investigation, stating, "Our focus is we'll let the investigative process play out. To the extent Major League Baseball or anyone needs our support in that, we will obviously cooperate. But beyond that, there's really not much we can do." Ortiz returned to Cleveland on July 2, the day before the announcement.
The Guardians have adjusted their pitching staff in response to Ortiz’s absence. Left-hander Joey Cantillo was recalled from Triple-A Columbus and took Ortiz’s spot in the rotation on July 3 against the Cubs. Cantillo, who opened the season in the Guardians bullpen with 22 relief appearances, was optioned to Columbus to transition into a starting role. He posted a 3.86 ERA in four starts at Columbus, striking out 15 batters over 11 2/3 innings. Additionally, left-hander Doug Nikhazy was recalled to replace Kolby Allard, who was designated for assignment despite pitching three scoreless innings in a recent game. Nikhazy, a second-round pick in 2021, made his MLB debut earlier this season but struggled in his first outing.
The Guardians, who reached the American League Championship Series last fall, have been in a slump, having lost six consecutive games leading up to Ortiz’s leave. Their record fell to 40-44, placing them second in the AL Central but 12½ games behind the Detroit Tigers. The team’s pitching rotation, which ranks 18th in MLB with a 4.13 ERA, has been a concern for the front office, prompting offseason moves including the trade that brought Ortiz to Cleveland.
Baseball’s relationship with gambling has been complex and fraught with controversy in recent years. The league has taken a hard stance on gambling violations, illustrated by the lifetime ban of San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano in 2024 for placing nearly 400 bets on baseball, as well as one-year suspensions for four other players involved in betting. Earlier this year, MLB fired umpire Pat Hoberg for sharing a legal sports betting account with a friend who bet on baseball games and deleting messages related to the investigation.
Moreover, baseball has seen dramatic shifts in its approach to gambling-related bans. In a notable development earlier this year, Commissioner Rob Manfred reinstated Pete Rose and other historically banned players, including members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox, making them eligible for Hall of Fame induction. This change followed discussions involving former President Donald Trump and marked a significant evolution in MLB’s gambling policies.
Ortiz’s situation unfolds amid heightened scrutiny of gambling across professional sports. Recently, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York opened a federal investigation into NBA guard Malik Beasley related to gambling, while Toronto Raptors guard Jontay Porter faced charges and a ban from the NBA for betting on games and sharing inside information. These cases underscore the broader challenges leagues face in maintaining the integrity of their sports.
The Guardians’ management and players are grappling with the uncertainty surrounding Ortiz’s leave. Manager Stephen Vogt addressed the team, acknowledging the difficulty of the situation. “Honestly, when I got the news yesterday, I didn't know how to feel,” Vogt said. “There's so much unknowns with this, but you know what? Every team goes through adversity, maybe different kinds, but this is a resilient group. I've been through situations similar to this before in my career as a player, and what would I have wanted to hear? How would I want the manager to have reacted, and that's what I'm trying to do.”
Ortiz’s journey to the majors was unconventional. Signed by the Pirates at age 19 in 2018, he debuted in 2022 and quickly advanced through the organization, pitching 238⅓ innings with a 3.93 ERA over three seasons before joining the Guardians. He is under team control through the 2029 season, making his current leave and the investigation a significant moment for both the player and franchise.
As the Guardians await the conclusion of the investigation, the team must navigate the immediate impact on their pitching staff and clubhouse morale. The MLB’s commitment to upholding gambling integrity remains firm, and Ortiz’s case will likely be closely watched as it develops. Meanwhile, the Guardians continue their season with a reshuffled rotation, hoping to halt their losing streak and remain competitive in the AL Central.
