MLB Pitcher Luis Ortiz Under Investigation for Potential Match-Fixing
MLB pitcher Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians is currently under investigation following reports of suspicious gambling activity tied to his recent on-field performance. The league has placed Ortiz on non-disciplinary paid leave while the inquiry is conducted, a measure negotiated jointly with the MLB Players Association.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:According to information sourced from betting-integrity firm IC360, alerts were issued in June to several sportsbook operators regarding two specific pitches thrown by Ortiz. These alerts highlighted unusual betting patterns focused on individual pitch outcomes, particularly on whether Ortiz would throw a ball or hit a batter.
Related: NBA Player Malik Beasley Targeted in Federal Betting InvestigationThe alerts pertained to games held on June 15 against the Seattle Mariners and on June 27 against the St. Louis Cardinals. In both cases, Ortiz threw sliders that landed significantly outside the strike zone.
IC360 reported that these particular betting markets—predicting outcomes of single pitches—saw a high volume of wagers, which triggered the integrity firm's concern. Such betting patterns are often flagged in scenarios where spot-fixing is suspected. Spot-fixing refers to the manipulation of a specific moment in a game, such as a single pitch or play, rather than the entire outcome of the contest.
Ortiz had originally been scheduled to start a game against the Chicago Cubs on the same day that his leave was announced. His removal from the lineup and temporary departure from the team were directly linked to the ongoing investigation.
The Cleveland Guardians confirmed Ortiz's leave and noted that it came as a result of the league's arrangement with the players' union. The organization stated that it was not in a position to comment further due to the confidential nature of the MLB's investigative process.
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Match-Fixing in the Spotlight
The investigation into Ortiz comes amid increased scrutiny on gambling activity within professional baseball. Recently, four players—Andrew Saalfrank, Michael Kelly, Jay Groome and José Rodríguez—returned to the league after serving one-year suspensions for betting on games, although none were accused of influencing the outcomes.
In a separate case, former Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime ban for placing over $150,000 in bets, including wagers on games involving his own team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ortiz and Marcano were previously teammates on the Pirates roster. Ortiz joined the organization in 2018 as a teenager and remained with the team until early 2024, while Marcano was part of the Pirates from 2021 to 2023. Although there is no confirmed link between the two cases, the timing and Ortiz's prior association with a permanently banned player have drawn attention from league officials and analysts.
Video clips circulating on social media show the two specific pitches that triggered the investigation. Both pitches appear to be sliders that bounced in the dirt well outside the strike zone. If it is determined that Ortiz intentionally threw those pitches as part of a spot-fixing scheme, the consequences could be severe. MLB rules stipulate that any player found to have fixed or attempted to fix a game, or solicited another player to engage in improper conduct, is subject to permanent ineligibility from the league.
Although the details of the Ortiz case remain under wraps, the league has made it clear in previous cases that betting activity alone does not warrant lifetime bans unless it involves an attempt to manipulate game outcomes. In Marcano's case, for example, MLB stated that he did not use inside information, and his bets had only a 4.3% success rate.
Nevertheless, if Ortiz is found to have deliberately altered the result of individual pitches to benefit bettors, it would constitute a major breach of league integrity and could lead to both a lifetime ban and potential legal consequences.
His leave from the game is set to last until July 17 but could be extended depending on the outcome of the investigation.
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