Luis Ortiz Under MLB Investigation: Here's What We Know
Guardians starter Luis Ortiz has been placed under MLB Investigation in regards to potential gambling activity.
Earlier this morning, the Cleveland Guardians announced that starting pitcher Luis Ortiz has been placed on Major League Baseball’s “non-disciplinary paid leave” until at least the conclusion of the All-Star break (July 17).
At the time of the announcement, no further details were provided. However, in the hours that followed, Ken Rosenthal and Jeff Passan reported that Ortiz is under investigation for potential involvement in gambling activity.
Ortiz has reportedly been flagged in connection with two specific pitches made in two separate games. The first occurred in the second inning against the Seattle Mariners on June 15, while the second came in the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 27.
Why is MLB interested in these two particular pitches? Because both pitches came at the start of an inning — a moment frequently tied to prop bets in the sports gambling world. In this case, the prop would involve betting that the first pitch of an inning would either be a ball or hit the batter.
In both instances, Ortiz missed the strike zone by a wide margin.
While it’s entirely normal for pitchers — especially Ortiz — to occasionally miss the strike zone significantly, an independent betting integrity firm alerted MLB to “unusual gambling activity” tied to these two pitches. That is, large sums of money were wagered on these exact outcomes, likely by individuals with prior knowledge of what would happen.
As a pitcher, Ortiz has direct control over the outcome of his pitches. If he is found to be connected to these bets, the suspicion becomes plausible. MLB likely has credible evidence linking Ortiz to the wagers, and the consequences could be severe.
For obvious reasons, MLB players are strictly prohibited from participating in any form of sports gambling. Violators face significant punishment. According to MLB Conduct Policies, Rule 21 states:
“Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible.”
Just last year, San Diego's Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime ban for placing bets on baseball. If Ortiz is found guilty, a similar punishment could be imminent.
While some fans might believe it’s extreme to suspend a player over just two pitches, MLB maintains a strict match-fixing policy. The league is clear that consequences will be enforced, regardless of how small the act may seem in the context of a full game.
For now, Cleveland will be without Ortiz for at least the next two weeks. He has made 16 starts this season, posting a 4.36 ERA, and is under club control through the 2030 season. However, based on precedent and the presumed strength of MLB’s evidence, it’s possible Ortiz has thrown his last pitch in the majors.
While we must adopt an “innocent until proven guilty” approach, it’s hard not to recognize the catastrophic loss this could represent for the Guardians.
Ortiz was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Andrés Giménez to the Toronto Blue Jays and was projected to be a long-term fixture in Cleveland’s rotation.
Only time will tell what comes next, but for a team currently in the midst of a brutal slump, this news couldn’t have come at a worse time.