Two suspicious pitches by Guardians’ Luis Ortiz part of gambling investigation
The Cleveland Guardians found themselves in a bit of a predicament as their starting pitcher Luis Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave just hours before he was set to face off against the Chicago Cubs. Major League Baseball (MLB) made the announcement, although the nature of the investigation was not disclosed initially. However, ESPN later reported that the investigation was related to gambling.
The focus of the investigation revolved around two specific pitches thrown by Ortiz during previous games. In June, a betting integrity firm named IC360 flagged unusual betting activity surrounding Ortiz’s pitches. The first incident occurred on June 15 against the Seattle Mariners when Ortiz threw a pitch far from the strike zone, leading to suspicions of foul play. The second incident took place on June 27 during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals when Ortiz once again threw a pitch that the catcher couldn’t handle.
Although these types of situations can happen to any pitcher, MLB deemed it necessary to look into the matter further. The bets in question originated from Ohio, New York, and New Jersey, according to ESPN.
As a result of the ongoing investigation, Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary leave, which will extend through the MLB All-Star break, with games set to resume on July 18. The Guardians released a statement acknowledging the situation and expressing their commitment to respecting the league’s investigative process.
Throughout the season, Ortiz has made 16 appearances for the Guardians, posting a 4.36 ERA and recording 96 strikeouts. The team will have to navigate this unexpected development as they continue their season.
It’s important to note that the information provided in this article is based on reports from various sources, including the Associated Press. For the latest updates on this story and more sports news, follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Scott Thompson, a sports writer for Fox News Digital, contributed to this report.
