The trial for MLB pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz accused of participating in a gambling scheme is likely headed for a fall start.
Key Takeaways
- The initial May 4 trial date could be postponed until October.
- Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz face multiple gambling-related charges.
- A federal indictment accused them of rigging pitches and accepting payoffs to help two Dominican Republic bettors.
The Associated Press reported that Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto initially booked a May 4 trial, but she indicated during Wednesday’s hearing that the court case against the Cleveland Guardians pitchers will be postponed until October.
Clase and Ortiz pleaded not guilty to money laundering, wire fraud conspiracy, and other gambling-related charges in November 2025. Both players were placed on non-disciplinary leave in July 2025 after an investigation emerged about potential game manipulation. It's one of the latest incidents of athletes betting on sports.
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Serious allegations
Federal prosecutors allege that the Guardians duo accepted thousands of dollars in payments to rig pitches to help two bettors in the Dominican Republic profit.
The unnamed Dominican Republic bettors would wager on pitch-level props that have since been banned at U.S. sportsbooks. They allegedly made at least $460,000 on the scheme. Their attorneys deny claims of collusion with bettors.
Clase, who allegedly set up the scheme and recruited Ortiz, is accused of manipulating pitches in 48 games over two years, according to an unsealed indictment. Clase is accused of using code words like “rooster” and “chicken” in text messages to tip off what he would be throwing.
Some scheme details
Clase, who was a dominant closer for Cleveland, claims that the texts were about a legal cockfighting ring and not the game-manipulation accusations.
Prosecutors said in the indictment that Clase was told to “throw a rock at the first rooster in today’s fight” before a game on May 18, 2025. Clase agreed, replying with “that’s an easy toss to that rooster.”
However, Clase didn’t play in that game. He also broke league rules by using a phone in a game the previous day to alert the bettors about a pitch outside the strike zone, leading to a $27,000 win, according to the indictment.
Ortiz’s lawyers claim he did not know about the gambling scheme. His attorneys have requested that Ortiz, who allegedly was involved in two suspect games, be tried separately, and they also asked for a later trial date than this spring.
