Major League Baseball is grappling with a betting scandal involving Cleveland Guardians relievers Emmanuel Clase and Luis L. Ortiz, who allegedly rigged individual pitches for prop bets. The league has responded by capping wagers on pitch-specific markets at $200 and banning parlays on them. Experts argue that regulated gambling and detection systems are key to maintaining game integrity.
The scandal centers on accusations that Guardians relievers Emmanuel Clase and Luis L. Ortiz manipulated single pitches, such as altering velocity or strike outcomes, to influence prop bets. According to the Department of Justice indictment, Clase earned about $5,000 per rigged pitch or facilitation for his teammate. Clase, the team's closer, was projected to earn $6.4 million in 2026, with $10 million team options for 2027 and 2028, totaling over $25 million across three seasons. If convicted, he faces up to 60 years in prison and a lifetime ban from MLB.
In response, MLB collaborated with sportsbooks to restrict pitch-level betting markets, which include bets on ball/strike calls and pitch velocity. These 'micro-bets' pose heightened integrity risks as they involve one-off events controlled by a single player with minimal impact on the game, per an official MLB statement. The new rules limit wagers to $200 maximum and prohibit parlaying such bets to reduce incentives for misconduct.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized the league's commitment: "Since the Supreme Court decision opened the door to legalized sports betting, Major League Baseball has continuously worked with industry and regulatory stakeholders across the country to uphold our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans."
Other leagues have taken similar steps. NBA commissioner Adam Silver noted efforts to pull back prop bets on two-way players to prevent manipulation. The NFL bans bets on specific plays, like a first pass being an incompletion.
Sportsbook executives and experts downplay calls to eliminate prop bets entirely. John Murray, vice president of race and sports for Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, stated, "We're not gonna do that," highlighting internal deterrents like monitoring suspicious betting patterns. Matthew Bakowicz, a former MLB compliance official and DraftKings manager, views the incident as isolated: "We have two individuals who have made a mistake... It's a minute issue that needs to be resolved within the judicial system." He argues baseball's structure makes it susceptible to individual actions but stresses regulated gambling catches issues early, unlike underground operations that fueled past scandals like the 1919 Black Sox.
Bakowicz and Murray advocate for regulation over bans, noting it allows oversight while enhancing fan engagement. They point out that detection systems are effective, as evidenced by the indictments, serving as deterrents for potential wrongdoers.