Luis Ortiz placed on paid leave during MLB gambling investigation following suspicious betting activity tied to two of his pitches.
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz has been placed on paid administrative leave by Major League Baseball as it conducts an investigation believed to be related to gambling activity, according to multiple sources. The team confirmed the move on Thursday but did not provide specific details, citing league rules that restrict public comment during an ongoing investigation.
Ortiz, 26, will remain on paid leave until at least July 17. That timeline could extend further depending on the progress of the league’s review. The move comes just hours before Ortiz was scheduled to start Thursday night against the Cubs. The Guardians announced that left-hander Joey Cantillo would take his place in the rotation.
The investigation reportedly centers around suspicious betting patterns tied to two separate pitches thrown by Ortiz this season. Both instances have drawn scrutiny from MLB’s integrity monitoring partners.
Betting Activity Raised Red Flags in Two Starts
According to reports, a betting integrity firm flagged two specific pitches involving Ortiz that showed irregular wagering behavior. The first instance occurred during a June 15 start against the Seattle Mariners. Unusual betting volume was reportedly placed on Ortiz to begin the second inning with either a ball or a hit batter. Ortiz opened the inning with a slider that missed the strike zone by a wide margin.
A second flagged pitch took place in a June 27 outing against the St. Louis Cardinals. Again, bets were placed on Ortiz to start the third inning with a ball or hit a batter. Like the earlier incident, he began the frame with a slider well outside the zone.
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
In both cases, the unusual betting attention raised internal alarms. The second pitch even drew attention from broadcasters, one of whom referenced the movie “Major League” in a tongue-in-cheek remark about the pitch’s location. MLB has not made a formal statement on whether Ortiz is directly accused of wrongdoing, but has placed him on leave while the situation is reviewed.
Season Disrupted After Promising 2024 Campaign
Ortiz joined the Guardians in December via trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates after a strong showing in 2024. Last season, he posted a 3.32 ERA over 37 appearances, establishing himself as a reliable option. That production earned him a spot in Cleveland’s starting rotation entering 2025.
His current season, however, has been more uneven. In 16 starts, Ortiz owns a 4-9 record with a 4.36 ERA across 88 2/3 innings. The Guardians, who are contending in the American League Central, were relying on Ortiz to provide depth to a rotation that has battled its own injury issues.
Now, that plan has been upended. With Ortiz away from the team indefinitely, Cleveland will look to Cantillo and other depth arms to help bridge the gap. The team has not indicated whether it expects Ortiz to return after the initial leave expires on July 17.
Broader Gambling Context Looms Over League
The news surrounding Ortiz arrives at a time when sports betting is under heightened scrutiny across all major leagues. MLB has established partnerships with gambling-monitoring services to track unusual activity, particularly in the wake of increased legalization across the U.S. This case represents one of the first high-profile investigations involving a current pitcher in connection with flagged betting trends.
This Luis Ortiz gambling investigation isn’t a great look for Major League Baseball, but it’s impossible to figure out how this keeps happening in pro sports.
Nobody seems to know and there just aren’t any good answers.
Maybe we’ll never know. pic.twitter.com/nsVgYCvBKg
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) July 3, 2025
MLB has made it clear that it will treat integrity issues seriously, especially in light of past scandals in other sports. For now, Ortiz remains on paid leave, and the Guardians have acknowledged the investigation while declining further comment.
As the league continues to investigate, it remains to be seen whether Ortiz will face discipline or be cleared of wrongdoing. In the meantime, Cleveland will move forward without one of its expected rotation contributors.
