Emmanuel Clase, 27, was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through August 31 as part of Major League Baseball’s investigation into sports gambling. The move comes after unusual betting activity on two pitches thrown by Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz in July.
Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time winner of the Mariano Rivera Award, is facing an unclear connection to the investigation. Sportsbooks and betting operators were alerted after a spike in action on Ortiz’s first pitch against the Seattle Mariners on June 15, which wound up outside the strike zone. A similar incident occurred against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 27.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt expressed frustration over the situation, saying it “hurts” and affects the team’s game. Clase has a 3.23 ERA this season, but his recent performance has been impacted by the investigation.
The Guardians maintain that no additional players or personnel are expected to be impacted by the investigation. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred previously expressed concerns about microbets on individual pitches and emphasized the importance of transparency in sports betting.
Ortiz remains on non-disciplinary paid leave until August 31, and Clase’s status is unclear. The Guardians’ plan is to use a closer-by-committee approach for now, as Vogt said “he’s a part of the team.”
Source: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45843304/sources-guardians-emmanuel-clase-leave-gambling-probe