Why was Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase placed on non-disciplinary paid leave?

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave Monday, effective through August 31, as Major League Baseball (MLB) continues its investigation into sports gambling.

Clase is now the second Guardians player sidelined in connection with the probe. Starting pitcher Luis Ortiz was placed on paid leave July 3, with his absence recently extended to the same August 31 timeline.

Clase, a 27-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic, is in his fifth season with the Guardians. A three-time American League All-Star, he has led the league in saves each of the past three years. This season, he’s recorded 24 saves with a 5–3 record, a 3.23 ERA, and 47 strikeouts over 47 1/3 innings in 48 appearances.


Ortiz, also a Dominican right-hander, is 26 and joined the Guardians in a trade with Pittsburgh last December. He holds a 4–9 record this season with a 4.36 ERA and 96 strikeouts across 16 appearances.


While both players remain on paid leave, they are allowed to maintain contact with the team but are barred from accessing club facilities.

"Per an agreement with the MLBPA (players union), Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through games on August 31 while MLB continues its sports betting investigation," News agency AP quoted an MLB statement as saying.

"We will not comment further until the investigation has been completed."

The Guardians stated that no additional players or team personnel are expected to be affected by the ongoing investigation.

"We have been informed that no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted," the team said in a statement. "The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time and will respect the league's confidential investigative process as we continue to fully cooperate."

According to multiple reports, a firm that tracks unusual betting activity flagged two of Ortiz’s starts - June 15 against Seattle and June 27 against St. Louis - for suspicious wagering patterns. However, the reason for Clase being under investigation remains unclear.