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MLB Extends Ortiz’s Paid Leave Through August 31 During Ongoing Gambling Probe

The Guardians pitcher has been barred from team facilities pending the league’s examination of unusual betting on two of his June pitches.

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Jun 27, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz (45) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images/File Photo
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Overview

  • Ortiz’s non-disciplinary paid leave, originally set to end after the All-Star break, now runs through August 31 with salary and service time intact.
  • Betting-integrity firm IC360 alerted sportsbooks to spikes in prop bets on Ortiz’s first pitches on June 15 in Seattle and June 27 against St. Louis.
  • Under an agreement between MLB and the Players Association, Ortiz remains excluded from team facilities while the confidential investigation continues without a set deadline.
  • In his first season with Cleveland, Ortiz is 4-9 with a 4.36 ERA and 96 strikeouts over 16 starts and has been off the Guardians’ active roster since July 3.
  • MLB’s strict anti-gambling rules bar players from all baseball wagers on individual pitches or game outcomes and carry penalties up to lifetime bans, as evidenced by last year’s ban of Tucupita Marcano.