Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz to Remain on Paid Leave amid MLB Investigation

Major League Baseball and the MLBPA have agreed to keep Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase and starting pitcher Luis Ortiz on nondisciplinary paid leave "until further notice" while a gambling investigation into the pair continues, per David Purdum of ESPN and The Athletic's Zack Meisel.

The duo had initially been put on paid leave through through Aug. 31. Ortiz hasn't pitched since July 3, while it was announced that Clase was also being investigated and was put on paid leave on July 28.

According to Purdum, "The investigation stems from unusual betting interest in individual pitches by Ortiz in two Guardians games in June. A sportsbook reported 'suspicious betting' on the first pitch thrown by Ortiz to be a ball or hit batsman to begin the second inning of a June 15 game against the Seattle Mariners and again in the third inning of a June 27 game against the St. Louis Cardinals. In both instances, Ortiz threw a first-pitch slider that was well outside the strike zone."

Meisel added that the Ohio Casino Control Commission was made aware of "suspicious wagering activity on Guardians' wagering events" in late June.

If either player was found to be betting on games they were participating in, they would be found "permanently ineligible," per the MLB handbook.

Placing bets with "illegal bookmakers or agents for illegal bookmakers" is also subject to punishment by commissioner Rob Manfred as he "deems appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances of the conduct."

Ortiz, 26, was 4-9 in his first season with the Guardians, posting a 4.36 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 96 strikeouts in 88.2 innings. Clase, 27, is a three-time All-Star who was 5-3 this season with a 3.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 47 strikeouts and 24 saves in 29 opportunities. He likely would have been traded ahead of the deadline had he not been placed on leave.