Breaking MLB News: Guardians Pitcher Luis Ortiz Investigated for Gambling

Cleveland Guardians starter Luis Ortiz is being investigated by MLB for gambling violations due to the betting action on two of his pitches in recent starts.

In a typical MLB season, more than 700,000 pitches are thrown. Two from Luis Ortiz had unusual gambling action on them, prompting an alert sent out and an investigation by Major League Baseball. From our story (https://t.co/Ib6FwBm5MH), here are the details on the pitches. pic.twitter.com/EBniWKT8gw
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 3, 2025

Luis Ortiz got caught gambling when an irregular influx of money came in on the “First Pitch Of The 3rd Inning Will Be a Ball” bet and he came out and threw this 😂 😂 😂 #guilty pic.twitter.com/9oqvOwM01D
— Ohio’s Tate (@BarstoolTate) July 3, 2025

Per Passan, a betting-integrity firm flagged a pair of pitches from Ortiz that had received unusual gambling activity. He has been placed on "non-disciplinary paid leave" by MLB through at least July 17, though it could be extended if the investigation is still ongoing.

The bets were made on Ortiz's first pitches in certain innings during his June 15 and June 27 starts to be a ball or a hit batsman. You can watch the results above. In the first instance, in the second inning in Seattle, his first pitch was in the dirt, down and away. In the second game, it wasn't even close, as he bounced his first pitch of the third inning a couple of feet off the plate.

Ortiz was acquired by the Guardians this past offseason from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-team trade that sent Andres Gimenez to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 26-year-old Ortiz has a 4-9 record and 4.36 ERA as the No. 3 starter in the Cleveland rotation.

He's currently on a one-year, $782,600 contract as he is still in his pre-arbitration years for one more season.