Allegations continue to mount against embattled Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase.
Clase has been accused of intentionally rigging balls and strikes so that bettors could cash in on single pitch prop bets, along with fellow Cleveland pitcher Luis Ortiz. Both men have pled not guilty to charges of fraud, bribery and conspiracy. According to The Athletic, prosecutors for the U.S. Attorney’s Office believe Clase’s illegal activity extended into the 2024 playoffs as well.
“Prosecutors continue to sift through data, and have so far added several new suspicious examples,” Mike Vorkunov and Zack Meisel write. “Now, Clase is accused of throwing two rigged pitches in 2024 as well, including one on Oct. 5, in the ninth inning of the Guardians’ Game 1 win against the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series. In total, prosecutors have identified 15 times from 2023 through 2025 in which they allege Clase tried to throw pitches to help sports gamblers win their prop bets on him.”
Game 1 of the ALDS was a 7-0 Guardians win over the Tigers. Clase had the ninth inning and opened with a ball to the leadoff hitter, then proceeded to throw a scoreless frame.
Both Clase and Ortiz have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July. Neither has been permitted to attend Guardians spring training.
“Emmanuel Clase is innocent and denies all allegations in the superseding indictment,” Clase’s lawyer, Michael Ferrara, told The Athletic. “While we remain disappointed in the flawed views of the evidence and rush to judgment that led to these charges, we look forward to clearing his name at trial where the full facts and circumstances of the case will be revealed.”