Sports · Baseball · 4 hrs ago
Trial begins for Guardians pitchers accused of rigging pitches for bettors
Jury selection began in New York in the federal trial of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz.
Prosecutors accuse the two players of helping bettors wager on pitches they say were deliberately manipulated.
They allege Clase rigged at least 18 pitches across 17 games and Ortiz manipulated two pitches in two games.
Bettors allegedly won at least $400,000 on more than 100 wagers placed through betting platforms.
Clase’s lawyers say his pitches were part of normal baseball strategy, while Ortiz’s lawyers say he never communicated with bettors.
The jury will decide whether the pitches were part of a scheme or had legitimate baseball reasons.
Guardians staff, Major League Baseball officials and betting company representatives are among the potential witnesses.
Jury selection began Monday in federal court in New York for the trial of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz.
Prosecutors accuse the pitchers of manipulating pitches as part of a betting scheme.
The indictment alleges Clase rigged at least 18 pitches in 17 games from May 19, 2023, to May 28, 2025.
Ortiz is accused of manipulating two pitches in two Guardians games in June 2025.
The pitchers’ lawyers dispute the accusations, saying Clase’s pitches had legitimate explanations and Ortiz did not communicate with bettors.
- Who
- Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are on trial. Two other men are accused of helping bettors use inside information.
- What
- They are charged in connection with an alleged pitch-rigging and betting scheme.
- When
- Jury selection began Monday, November 2, 2026. The alleged conduct spans May 2023 to June 2025.
- Where
- Federal court in New York; the trial is in Brooklyn.
- Why
- Prosecutors allege the pitches were manipulated to help bettors win wagers. The pitchers’ lawyers dispute the allegations.
Federal prosecutors
Clase and Ortiz's defense attorneys
Alleged pitch manipulation
Federal prosecutors
Prosecutors allege Clase rigged pitches and Ortiz manipulated two pitches to enable betting; they say bettors won at least $400,000.
Clase and Ortiz's defense attorneys
Clase's attorneys say his pitches were part of normal baseball strategy; Ortiz's attorneys say he never communicated with bettors.
Purpose of communications and money transfers
Federal prosecutors
Prosecutors say Clase shared information about planned pitches with bettors, sometimes for bribes or kickbacks.
Clase and Ortiz's defense attorneys
Clase's attorneys say he did not join a conspiracy and that communications concerned legal rooster fighting in the Dominican Republic.
Prosecutors allege Clase rigged at least 18 pitches in 17 games during this period.
Prosecutors allege Ortiz manipulated two pitches in two Guardians games.
A federal tax lien for $588,919.60 in back taxes under Clase's name was issued, according to records obtained by ESPN.
Co-defendant Luis Arismendy Paca Méndez was extradited from the Dominican Republic to the United States.
Jury selection began for the pitchers’ trial in federal court in New York.
- Pitchers
- Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz
- Alleged Clase pitches
- At least 18 pitches in 17 games
- Alleged Ortiz pitches
- Two pitches in two Guardians games
- Alleged bettor winnings
- At least $400,000
- Trial location
- Federal court in Brooklyn, New York
- Jury selection
- November 2, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
At trial, the jury will be tasked with deciding if certain ... pitches were thrown for legitimate, baseball-strategy reasons or in furtherance of a scheme to defraud betting companies.
Not once. Not by text, not by phone, not in person.
The government's case against Luis Leandro Ortiz Ribera is remarkably thin.
Posts on X
Trial proceedings begin today at the Federal Courthouse in Brooklyn. Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase & Luis Ortiz are facing four criminal counts related to pitch rigging as part of a sports betting conspiracy. Follow for (periodic) updates. No phones in courtroom.