Cleveland Guardians right-hander Luis Ortiz has been placed on paid, non-disciplinary leave by Major League Baseball as the league investigates two pitches he threw that reportedly coincided with suspicious betting activity. According to multiple reports, the action came just hours before Ortiz was scheduled to start Thursday’s game against the Chicago Cubs.

Sources told ESPN that the probe revolves around microbets placed on the outcomes of specific pitches Ortiz threw in two games — one on June 15 against the Seattle Mariners, and another on June 27 versus the St. Louis Cardinals. A betting integrity firm named IC360 reportedly flagged the wagers as unusual and alerted sportsbook operators across several states, including Ohio, New York, and New Jersey.

In both instances, Ortiz opened the inning with a slider that missed the strike zone badly. On June 15, his off-target pitch in the second inning led to a walk and was followed by a five-run outburst from Seattle. Twelve days later, a similarly errant pitch in the third inning against the Cardinals preceded a three-run inning capped by a home run.

Wagers on Specific Pitches Raise Red Flags

These wagers — known in the gambling world as microbets — allow fans to place bets on the result of a single pitch, such as whether it will be a ball or a hit-by-pitch. In Ortiz’s case, bettors placed focused action on his first pitch in those innings being either a ball or HBP, both of which came to pass in erratic fashion.

The alerts from IC360 led Major League Baseball to begin its inquiry, ultimately resulting in Ortiz being sidelined until at least the end of the All-Star break on July 17. “The Guardians have been notified that Luis Ortiz has been placed on leave per an agreement with the Players Association due to an ongoing league investigation,” the team said in a statement. “The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time and will respect the league’s confidential investigative process.”

A Season Disrupted for a Key Rotation Arm

This marks Ortiz’s first season in Cleveland following a three-team offseason deal that sent Andrés Giménez to Toronto and brought the 26-year-old starter from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has appeared in 16 games for the Guardians this year, registering a 4-9 record and a 4.36 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning, albeit with elevated walk numbers.

Ortiz’s abrupt departure comes at a difficult time for Cleveland, as the team has dropped six straight games, falling to 40-44 and sitting 12.5 games behind the division-leading Tigers in the American League Central. The Guardians responded to Ortiz’s absence by calling up left-hander Joey Cantillo from Triple-A Columbus to take his spot in the rotation.

A Sport Under Heightened Scrutiny for Gambling

Ortiz’s case is the latest in a growing list of gambling-related controversies Major League Baseball has confronted since the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision allowing state-authorized sports betting. Earlier this year, MLB handed a lifetime ban to Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano for betting on his own team, while four other minor leaguers received year-long suspensions for similar violations. In another high-profile move, umpire Pat Hoberg — widely regarded for his strike zone accuracy — was dismissed after it was discovered he had shared a betting account with a friend who wagered on baseball.

The sport also endured a high-profile scandal in early 2024 when Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, admitted to stealing $17 million from the superstar to fund his gambling addiction. Mizuhara is now serving a 57-month prison sentence for fraud.

Ortiz, who signed with the Pirates in 2018 at the relatively late age of 19, rose quickly through the minor leagues before debuting in 2022. Over his MLB tenure, he’s thrown more than 230 innings with a career ERA of 3.93. He remains under team control through 2029 and will not count against Cleveland’s 26- or 40-man roster while on leave.

Whether Ortiz’s leave is extended beyond July 17 will depend on the status of MLB’s investigation. For now, league officials have declined to comment until the matter concludes.