Cleveland Guardians Pitcher Luis F. Ortiz's Paid Leave Extended Amid MLB Betting Probe

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis F. Ortiz will remain on non-disciplinary paid leave through August 31, as Major League Baseball continues its investigation into unusual betting patterns detected on his individual pitches. Ortiz was initially placed on paid leave on July 3 through the All-Star Break, and this extension was announced recently. The probe was initiated after a sportsbook reported suspicious betting activity on Ortiz's first pitches in select innings during games against the Seattle Mariners on June 15 and the St. Louis Cardinals on June 27. An unusual increase in money was wagered on these pitches being a ball or hit-batsman from betting accounts in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio, with both pitches ultimately being outside the strike zone.