MLB Gambling Scandal Takes a Major Turn as Former Guardians Pitchers Head to Trial

Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers allegedly threw pitches into the dirt on cue, netting gamblers $450,000 in rigged bets. And that’s all it took to undermine the notion that baseball is built on the promise that every pitch, every swing, and every out is decided on the field. The MLB betting scandal involving Cleveland Guardians’ Emmaual Clase and Luis Ortiz sent shockwaves through the sport in 2025, with allegations of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks tied to gambling. Both pitchers were sidelined as the controversy spiraled into a storm of investigations, legal battles, and unanswered questions.