MLB Pitch-Fixing Indictment in New York as Betting Scandal Expands
The NBA and UFC aren't the only professional sports leagues contending with match-fixing scandals. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have unsealed an indictment charging two MLB pitchers with rigging games for the benefit of bettors.
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz Ribera have been charged in an alleged pitch-fixing and betting fraud scheme. The face allegations of "wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy."
Ortiz was arrested in Boston and will appear in federal court there before being arraigned in New York. Clase is not yet in custody in the US, according to the Department of Justice.
According to the indictment, the players conspired with sports bettors to manipulate prop bets by intentionally altering pitch outcomes in MLB games. Beginning in May 2023, Clase allegedly provided inside information about the speed and type of his pitches, allowing conspirators to place fraudulent bets that generated at least $400,000 in illicit winnings.
Investigators said he threw certain pitches into the dirt to ensure outcomes that favored the wagers. In exchange, Clase received bribes and occasionally financed betting activity directly.
The Washington Post reports that Clase, through his attorney, stated that he is innocent and "looks forward to clearing his name in court."
Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme this past June, agreeing to throw specific pitches as balls during MLB games on June 15 and June 27 in exchange for bribes of $5,000 and $7,000, respectively. The bettors and co-conspirators reportedly used advanced information to profit an additional $60,000.
Ortiz hasn't issued a statement, as both players face potential prison terms of up to 20 years if convicted.
Prop bet ban in Ohio faces resistance
The new scandal is likely to reignite Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's push for more restrictions on betting. He has repeatedly cited the risks of addiction and the social impact of continuous access to online gaming.
DeWine's administration has backed new rules from the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) that would ban proposition bets on professional athletes, mirroring restrictions already in place for collegiate sports. The 2023 collegiate betting prohibition was implemented following requests from the NCAA and DeWine, who cited concerns about athlete harassment and match integrity.
However, Ohio House Finance Committee Chair Brian Stewart announced he would oppose the professional prop bet ban. Stewart, a member of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR), argued that eliminating prop wagers would significantly reduce betting volume and revenue for licensed sportsbooks.
He added that he may propose legislation to safeguard prop bets from future regulatory removal.
Stewart emphasized that proposition wagers remain a major part of Ohio sports betting, asserting they should continue under strict oversight rather than be outlawed altogether.
