MLB Introduces New Anti-Gambling Safeguards After Guardians Pitchers Face Federal Indictment

Major League Baseball announced new restrictions on pitch-related prop bets just one day after two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were indicted for allegedly participating in a scheme to manipulate wagers on MLB games.

Under the new guidelines, MLB’s authorized sportsbook partners must cap all pitch-level wagers at $200 and ban these bets from parlays, the league said Monday.

The restrictions apply to “micro-bets” made on individual pitches—such as predicting a ball or strike, or betting on pitch velocity—long considered the type of wagers most vulnerable to manipulation.

CNN has asked MLB whether these rule changes are a direct response to allegations that Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz intentionally rigged pitches to benefit sports bettors.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said he appreciated the industry’s cooperation in addressing the “integrity risks” posed by pitch-level betting markets.

The Federal Case

Clase and Ortiz were indicted Sunday on multiple federal charges, including:

• wire fraud conspiracy
• conspiracy to influence sporting events through bribery
• money laundering conspiracy

Both players have denied wrongdoing.

Ortiz’s attorney, Chris Georgalis, told CNN that “there is no credible evidence Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win baseball games.”
Clase’s lawyer, Michael J. Ferrara, said his client is “innocent of all charges and looks forward to clearing his name.”

MLB placed both players on non-disciplinary leave for the 2025 season as part of its ongoing betting investigation.

On Monday, Ortiz appeared in a federal courtroom in Boston. According to the Associated Press, Judge Donald Cabell released him on $500,000 bond, ordered him to surrender his passport, and restricted his travel.

CNN has requested further details from the court.

Alleged Pitch-Rigging Scheme

According to the indictment, the players allegedly prearranged specific pitches with co-conspirators, who then placed fraudulent bets based on advance knowledge of pitch type and velocity.

Federal prosecutors claim:

• Clase began participating in 2023
• Bettors used inside information from Clase — sometimes communicated during games — to win over $400,000 in pitch-related bets
• Ortiz joined the conspiracy in 2025
• Ortiz allegedly received $12,000 to intentionally throw balls instead of strikes in two games
• Clase allegedly received matching payments for helping coordinate Ortiz’s rigged pitches
• Bettors won at least $60,000 off Ortiz’s pitches

The DOJ says both players communicated with corrupt bettors to manipulate micro-bets during live MLB games.

A Broader Pattern of Federal Crackdowns

The indictment comes amid a sweeping federal crackdown on sports gambling schemes. In recent months, federal prosecutors have also charged:

• Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups
• Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier
• Former NBA player Damon Jones

Those cases involve alleged high-stakes poker bribery and insider betting.

All of the high-profile sports gambling cases—including MLB’s and the NBA’s—are being handled by the same team in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn.

Potential Penalties

If convicted on all counts, Clase and Ortiz could face decades in federal prison.