Emmanuel Clase accused of rigging pitches in even more games

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Former Cy Young Award finalist Emmanuel Clase is suspected of throwing rigged pitches to aid gamblers four times more than originally thought, a report said, citing a court document filed Thursday.

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The three-time all-star and AL saves leader for the Cleveland Guardians was accused by federal prosecutors of throwing suspicious pitches in nine games over a three-year span when his indictment was unsealed in November.

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However, the lawyer for teammate and alleged co-conspirator Luis Ortiz said the feds have accused Clase of manipulating his pitches in 39 other games as he asked for the cases to be severed over “markedly different levels of culpability,” ESPN reported.

Christos N. Georgalis, the lawyer for Ortiz, said his client will not receive a fair trial unless that happens.

ESPN said it had yet to receive a comment from Clase’s lawyer and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, which is prosecuting the case. MLB declined to comment further on the case, ESPN reported, but said previously that it was co-operating with prosecutors.

Co-accused’s lawyer wants cases split

Ortiz is accused of rigging pitches in two games in June 2025, while Clase is accused of conspiring with bettors between 2023 and 2025, according to the indictment.

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They have both pleaded not guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting events by bribery with the top charges worth up to 20 years in prison.

The filing asked for the case to be split due to the difference in scale of the alleged crimes, while highlighting that the indictment does not contain evidence that Ortiz communicated directly with bettors.

A jury presented “with 26 months of alleged criminal conduct by Mr. Clase — including suspect pitches during 48 games, dozens of communications with (a bettor), cash transfers and co-ordination of illegal wagers” could find Ortiz guilty by association, Georgalis said in the filing, via ESPN.

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Teammates placed on leave in July

Clase appeared in 197 games over the 2023, 2024 and 2025 seasons, which would mean he is accused of rigging pitches in nearly a quarter of his games. He was an American League Cy Young Award finalist in one of those seasons (2024) and led the AL in saves on two of those occasions (2023 and 2024).

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Both players were placed on non-disciplinary leave in July and are accused of receiving thousands of dollars to help two unnamed gamblers in their native Dominican Republic win bets placed on the speed and outcome of their pitches.

Clase has earned more than $15 million over his MLB career and was in the middle of a five-year, $20-million contract with Cleveland when he was placed on leave, according to Spotrac.

Ortiz had earned about $2.2 million during his time with Cleveland and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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