MLB, Guardians come to short-term conclusion over Luis Ortiz's suspension

A few weeks ago, Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz was placed on paid leave as the league mounted an investigation into a potential gambling conspiracy. While details have been scant thus far, it does appear as though the league's investigation is making enough progress to justify keeping Ortiz off the field.

July 18, the end of the league's All-Star break, was the original deadline for the league to make a final decision on its investigation. With consent from the MLBPA, it was decided that Ortiz will remain out of action until at least August 31 as the investigation has not concluded and will continue on.

Luis Ortiz's suspension extended as MLB continues betting investigation

Prior to the suspension, Ortiz had given the Guardians a 4.36 ERA in 88 2/3 innings across 16 starts. That's a bit of a departure from the 3.32 ERA he authored with the Pirates in 135 2/3 frames last season, though he wasn't a full-time starter in 2024. His FIP actually suggests he's been better in 2025 than 2024 (4.13 with Guardians, 4.25 with Pirates).

Ortiz's suspension stems from allegations regarding prop bets placed on games in which he started.

The bets, which regarded "first-pitch results" (i.e., ball, strike, ball in play, etc.) in certain at-bats, were flagged by betting integrity firm IC360. The first flagged pitch was offered to Randy Arozarena of the Mariners on June 15 (a slider fired into the dirt); the second flagged pitch was thrown to Cardinals catcher Pedro Pages on June 27 (a slider way off the plate that got past the catcher).

The pitches were flagged due to their "non-competitive nature", which coincided with first-pitch bets on the result of those offerings being balls. So far, there is no word yet as to if Ortiz or those close to him placed such bets or profited from the pitches.

Major League Baseball has famously taken these kinds of allegations seriously, hence their decision to extend the deadline on Ortiz's fate. If he is found to have bet on games he played in, expect the punishment to be decisive and permanent.

In the interim, left-hander Joey Cantillo has filled in for Ortiz. He has pitched to a 4.17 ERA in 41 innings this year, including a a 4.97 ERA in three starts in July. Others may get the opportunity to replace Ortiz, especially as the Guardians desperately try to remain within striking distance of the postseason.

Fans should note that the new deadline of August 31 is not a mandate for when a decision will come; the league could always extend the investigation again, likely into the offseason, as it continues to gather all the necessary evidence, or it could issue a final decision prior to the end of next month. Until that decision comes, Ortiz will remain out of action.

More Guardians News from Away Back Gone