We Have the Video: These Are the 2 Pitches That Allegedly Triggered MLB Gambling Probe
Luis Ortiz, a pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians, has been suspended by Major League Baseball (MLB) due to concerns linking his pitching to unusual betting activity. Specifically, the investigation was triggered by bets placed on whether Ortiz’s first two pitches in certain games would be a ball or a hit batsman. this occurred during games on June 15 against the Seattle Mariners and on June 27 against the St. Louis Cardinals, where his pitches on those occasions notably went into the dirt.
Currently, Ortiz is on non-disciplinary paid leave until July 17, the end of the All-Star break, although this leave may be extended as the investigation unfolds. The MLB was alerted to unusual betting activity reported by a betting-integrity firm, primarily from states such as Ohio, New York, and New jersey, regarding these specific pitches.
Cleveland’s president of baseball operations, Chris Antonetti, confirmed that Ortiz is banned from team facilities but can still be contacted by the Guardians. He emphasized the need to let the investigative process play out while cooperating with MLB’s inquiries. The team’s manager, Stephen Vogt, mentioned the team’s need to remain resilient amidst the uncertainty surrounding Ortiz’s situation.
This incident reflects ongoing concerns within MLB regarding gambling integrity, following a previous lifetime ban of another player for similar betting activities. The investigation will assess whether the betting was a coincidence or if Ortiz may have deliberately influenced the outcomes of those pitches.
Two pitches by Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians have been linked to betting activity, leading Major League Baseball to suspend the right-hander.
ESPN said that Ortiz is on “non-disciplinary paid leave” through July 17, which is the end of the All-Star break. That leave could be extended.
The MLB was alerted when betters were wagering over whether Ortiz’s first two pitches in certain innings would be either a ball or a hit batsman.
The betting took place in the bottom of the second inning on June 15, when Cleveland played the Seattle Mariners, and June 27 in the top of third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.
In both cases, as shown in videos posted to X, the first-pitch slider went into the dirt.
MLB’s investigation into Luis Ortiz is about these two individual pitches which received action flagged by a betting-integrity firm, per @JeffPassan pic.twitter.com/2zvZhmrTlJ
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 3, 2025
According to The New York Times, data from SportRadar shows that Ortiz has thrown first-pitch strikes 63.1 percent of the time this season.
The ESPN report said an alert about Ortiz indicated there was unusual betting activity in Ohio, New York, and New Jersey on those specific pitches.
According to the Akron Beacon Journal, alerts can be triggered by unusually high betting in specific instances. These are called “microbets.”
The investigation will seek to determine whether this was a coincidence or whether Ortiz planned to throw those specific pitches.
Chris Antonetti, Cleveland’s president of baseball operations, said Ortiz is banned from team facilities but can be contacted by the Guardians team, according to ESPN.
“We learned very little last night but knew we needed to get someone here today to start today’s game, and that really was our focus,” Antonetti said. “A lot has come out today, and that’s far more information than we have.”
He added, “Our focus is we’ll let the investigative process play out. To the extent Major League Baseball or anyone needs our support in that, we will obviously cooperate. But beyond that, there’s really not much we can do.”
Manager Stephen Vogt said the team was briefed.
“Honestly, when I got the news yesterday, I didn’t know how to feel,” Vogt said.
“There’s so much unknowns with this, but you know what? Every team goes through adversity, maybe different kinds, but this is a resilient group. I’ve been through situations similar to this before in my career as a player, and what would I have wanted to hear? How would I want the manager to have reacted, and that’s what I’m trying to do,” he said.
“We don’t know really anything that’s going on, so we can’t control that,” he said, according to the Times.
Last year, MLB issued a lifetime ban against San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano after making more than 400 bets on baseball, ESPN reported.
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