Federal Prosecutors Identify 18 Pitches at Center of Clase-Ortiz MLB Pitch-Fixing Trial

Federal prosecutors have identified 18 pitches they claim Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase tipped to bettors over three MLB seasons. One of those pitches came during the 2024 playoffs.

Court documents obtained by ESPN’s David Purdum show that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is focusing on a specific group of pitches. The details provide a clearer look at how prosecutors plan to build their wire fraud and money laundering case. Clase and teammate Luis Ortiz are scheduled to go to trial in November.

The Prosecution’s Pitch-by-Pitch Strategy

Instead of making broad claims about corruption, prosecutors are focusing on individual pitches.

U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella stated in the filing that the government plans to show that Clase provided advance information on about 18 pitches across 17 games. Prosecutors allege bettors then used that information to wager on what would happen.

Two pitches thrown by Ortiz were also flagged. However, prosecutors did not provide specific details about those pitches in the court documents.

By focusing on individual pitches, prosecutors will be able to present specific examples of the alleged scheme to the jury.

A Postseason Pitch Under the Microscope

One of the most notable details in the filing involves a pitch from the playoffs. Prosecutors allege the first pitch Clase threw in Game 1 of the 2024 ALDS was tipped in advance. The pitch was a 93-mph slider that Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling took for a ball.

Clase went on to retire the Tigers in order in the ninth inning as Cleveland finished a 7-0 victory. He threw eight pitches in the game, with five going for strikes.

The allegation that a pitch in a postseason game may have been involved could bring additional attention from MLB and sports betting regulators.

Who Are Clase and Ortiz, The Charges and What They Mean for Sports Betting Integrity

Clase is one of MLB’s more accomplished relief pitchers. The 28-year-old is a three-time All-Star and won the AL Reliever of the Year award in 2024, his final full season before the allegations surfaced. His status has helped make the case a high-profile MLB integrity investigation.

Ortiz, 27, joined Cleveland in a trade before the 2025 season. While he is less well-known than Clase, prosecutors allege he was also involved in the scheme. Both pitchers were arrested last year and have been on administrative leave since last summer.

The players face wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy charges. The case could also have an impact on the regulated sports betting industry. Legal sports betting has expanded to more than 30 U.S. states since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018.

Pitch-level betting markets can allow bettors to wager on details such as pitch type and location. That could make inside information about an upcoming pitch valuable to anyone trying to gain an unfair advantage.

Regulators and sportsbooks have raised concerns about the risks connected to in-play and micro-betting markets. The allegations in this case could add to those concerns.

What’s Next

The trial is scheduled to begin in November. Prosecutors plan to focus on specific pitches and could walk the jury through each alleged incident individually.

Both Clase and Ortiz have pleaded not guilty and maintain their innocence.

The outcome could have implications beyond the two players. The case may also influence how MLB, regulators, and the U.S. sports betting industry handle pitch-level betting markets and protect against the misuse of inside information.