Cleveland Guardians Pitcher Luis Ortiz Placed on Leave Amid MLB Gambling Investigation
Cleveland Guardians right-handed pitcher Luis Ortiz has been placed on “non-disciplinary paid leave” through July 17, as Major League Baseball (MLB) has launched an investigation into alleged violations of the league’s rules on sports gambling. The announcement came on Thursday, just hours before Ortiz was scheduled to start against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
While neither MLB nor the Guardians have publicly disclosed the specific nature of the investigation, multiple sources, including ESPN and The Athletic, indicate that the probe is related to sports gambling. The paid leave, which extends through the conclusion of the All-Star break, was a negotiated agreement between the league and the MLB Players Association. Should the investigation remain open beyond July 17, the leave could be extended.
The Guardians released a statement acknowledging the situation: “The Guardians have been notified by Major League Baseball that Luis Ortiz has been placed on leave per an agreement with the Players Association due to an ongoing league investigation. The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time and will respect the league’s confidential investigative process.” This statement was echoed by MLB, which also stated it would not comment further until the investigation is complete, as reported by MLB.com.
This investigation follows a series of recent high-profile cases involving gambling in MLB. In 2024, San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime ban for placing nearly 400 bets on baseball, including on his own team while injured. Additionally, four other players were handed one-year suspensions for betting on baseball while in the minor leagues, though they were reinstated in June. Earlier this year, MLB umpire Pat Hoberg was also fired after it was discovered he shared sports betting accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games. MLB’s rules strictly prohibit players from gambling on baseball or softball at any level, though betting on other sports is permitted.
Ortiz, a 26-year-old right-hander, was acquired by Cleveland from the Pittsburgh Pirates in December 2024 as part of a three-team trade. In his first season with the Guardians, he has been a consistent presence in the rotation, making 16 starts. His 2025 season statistics include a 4-9 record, a 4.36 ERA, 88.2 innings pitched, 96 strikeouts, and a 1.38 WHIP. Notably, his nine losses currently lead the American League, according to Baseball-Reference and MLB.com. Throughout his four-year MLB career, Ortiz holds a 16-22 record with a 4.05 ERA over 75 appearances, 50 of which were starts.
The news comes at a challenging time for the Guardians, who are currently on a six-game losing streak. With a 40-44 record, Cleveland sits in second place in the American League Central, 12.5 games behind the division-leading Detroit Tigers. Joey Cantillo has been called up from Triple-A Columbus to take Ortiz’s scheduled start against the Cubs.
The outcome of the MLB investigation into Luis Ortiz remains to be seen, but the league’s recent actions underscore its firm stance against gambling violations, particularly those involving baseball itself.
