Guardians Closer Emmanuel Clase Put on Leave Amid MLB Betting Probe

Another Blow to the Guardians’ Bullpen

The league announced the move on Monday, stating Clase’s leave is in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement with the MLB Players Association and will last until August 31. The Guardians and MLB have declined further comment, citing the confidential nature of the investigation.

“I’m not happy. This stinks,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “Two of our guys are being investigated and it hurts. It’s an unfortunate situation.”

With Clase out, Vogt announced the team will use a “closer-by-committee” approach to finish games. The team stated they do not expect any other players or staff to be involved in the investigation.

The Second Player Sidelined

Clase’s leave follows a similar action taken against his teammate, Luis Ortiz, on July 3. The investigation into Ortiz centers on unusual betting activity related to two specific pitches he threw in games on June 15 and June 27. The wagers, placed on him to throw a ball or hit a batter, were flagged by integrity monitoring firm IC360.

It is not yet clear whether the investigations into Clase and Ortiz are connected. The removal of two key pitchers puts the Guardians, who are competing for a playoff spot, in a difficult position as the season enters its final stretch.

The investigation into the Guardians pitchers is the latest in a series of gambling-related scandals that have hit MLB this season. The league is taking a hard-line stance as it navigates the new landscape of legalized sports betting.

In June, the league suspended five players for gambling, including a lifetime ban for Tucupita Marcano of the San Diego Padres for betting on baseball games while he was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In February, umpire Pat Hoberg was fired for sharing his legal sports betting accounts with a friend who then wagered on baseball.