MLB Tightens Gambling Rules After Guardians Pitchers Indicted in Betting Scandal

Major League Baseball announced new betting safeguards one day after two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were indicted in a federal sports betting scheme. The league said it has partnered with sportsbooks to immediately restrict “micro-bets” — wagers on individual pitches — amid growing concerns over integrity risks.

“Effective immediately, all MLB Authorized Gaming Operators will cap wagers on pitch-level markets at $200 and exclude those bets from parlays,” the league said in a statement. The move bans combining pitch-specific wagers, such as predicting whether a pitch will be a ball or strike, with other bets in multi-leg parlays.

The new restrictions follow federal indictments against Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who prosecutors allege conspired with bettors to rig wagers by revealing or manipulating specific pitches. Prosecutors say Clase’s involvement began in 2023 and that bettors won more than $400,000 from insider information. Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme this year and was paid $12,000 for intentionally throwing specific pitches in two games.

Both players face charges including wire fraud conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. They have denied wrongdoing. Ortiz appeared in federal court in Boston on Monday, where a magistrate judge released him on a $500,000 bond and restricted his travel. Clase remains on non-disciplinary leave.

MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred praised the industry’s cooperation in introducing the betting limits, calling it “a national solution to address the risks posed by these pitch-level markets.”

The indictments come on the heels of separate high-profile sports betting cases involving NBA figures, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, underscoring growing federal scrutiny of gambling in professional sports.

If convicted, both Clase and Ortiz could face decades in prison.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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