MLB Investigates Guardians’ Clase for Possible Betting Violations

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through August 31, as Major League Baseball deepens its investigation into potential sports betting violations. The league’s move marks the latest development in a widening probe that has now ensnared at least five players, including two from the Guardians’ pitching staff.

MLB announced the decision Monday, just days ahead of the league’s trade deadline. Clase, a three-time All-Star and last season’s American League Reliever of the Year, was widely viewed as a possible high-profile trade target. The sudden administrative leave now removes him from consideration and casts uncertainty over his near-term future in the game.

“Per an agreement with the MLBPA, Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through games on 31 August while MLB continues its sports betting investigation,” the league said in a brief statement. “We will not comment further until the investigation has been completed.” The Guardians confirmed the move and said they were informed no additional players or personnel were currently implicated.

• Emmanuel Clase placed on paid leave by MLB amid an ongoing sports betting investigation involving multiple players.

• Microbetting—wagers on individual pitches—raises integrity concerns due to its vulnerability to manipulation.

• MLB faces growing pressure to regulate or ban microbetting as part of broader efforts to protect the game’s integrity.

Growing Scrutiny on Microbetting

Clase is the second Cleveland pitcher this summer to face scrutiny under MLB’s betting policy. Earlier this month, the league opened an investigation into starter Luis Ortiz, focusing on suspicious betting activity tied to his in-game performance. According to reporting by ESPN, the Ortiz case centers on microbets placed during two Guardians games in June. In one instance, he threw a first-pitch ball that bounced off the plate, and in another, a slider that missed the zone entirely. While these plays may seem minor, the precision and immediacy of microbetting markets make them particularly sensitive to manipulation.

Microbetting allows fans to place wagers on individual pitches or plays in real time. Though bet sizes are generally small, any irregular activity—especially when repeated or concentrated—can raise alarms among integrity monitors and regulators. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has previously expressed concern over this segment of the market.

“Certain types of bets strike me as unnecessary and particularly vulnerable—things where it’s one single act and doesn’t affect the [game] outcome necessarily,” Manfred said earlier this year. An industry insider told iGB that the league is right to be concerned. Given recent federal cases involving syndicates and match-fixing, the source warned that MLB could be facing “a very serious problem” if betting irregularities are tied to deliberate in-game actions by players.

Could MLB Seek to Ban Microbets?

The developments in Cleveland arrive as lawmakers and regulators increasingly question the role of microbetting in U.S. sports. In New Jersey, Assemblyman Dan Hutchison introduced legislation last week aimed at banning microbets statewide, citing threats to game integrity. Comparisons are being made to the NCAA’s successful lobbying efforts to ban prop bets on college players following a string of harassment incidents and integrity concerns. MLB may soon follow a similar path, according to betting industry analysts.

“I have a feeling that we might see MLB start petitioning for the ban of microbets,” one insider told iGB on condition of anonymity. Baseball’s pace—marked by long pauses between pitches—makes it uniquely conducive to microbetting, and thus potentially more vulnerable to manipulation than faster-paced sports.

Certain types of bets strike me as unnecessary and particularly vulnerable—things where it’s one single act and doesn’t affect the outcome necessarily.

A Broader Outlook

Clase’s case is the latest in a string of high-profile gambling-related incidents to hit Major League Baseball since the fall of PASPA, the federal ban on sports betting that was struck down in 2018.

Last summer, Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime ban for betting on games involving his own team. Four other players were suspended in the same announcement. More recently, umpire Pat Hoberg was dismissed after MLB discovered he had shared a legal betting account with a poker player who wagered on baseball. Outside of on-field personnel, the league also dealt with the high-profile case of Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for embezzling over $16 million from Ohtani to repay debts to an illegal bookmaker.

While no criminal allegations have been made against Clase, and MLB has emphasized the presumption of innocence during the investigation, the case adds to mounting concerns around the league’s ability to safeguard its betting integrity in the post-PASPA era. As MLB continues its investigation, both the league and the players’ union will be closely watched for how they handle a potentially precedent-setting case involving one of the sport’s top relievers.