Guardians' Clase Accused of Pitch Manipulation in 48 Games; Scandal Deepens

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase faces accusations of manipulating pitches in at least 48 games over two years to benefit bettors, a scope five times larger than initially reported. Court documents from co-defendant Luis Ortiz's attorneys detail the extensive alleged misconduct. Clase was indicted in November on wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and bribery charges, to which he pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for May. He remains on the restricted list, unpaid, and faces a potential lifetime ban from baseball, despite a $6.4 million contract for 2026.