Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase is alleged to have shared information with bettors about 18 specific pitches he threw at various points in the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons, according to federal court documents obtained by ESPN's David Purdum.
The list of pitches flagged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York includes one thrown in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the 2024 ALDS. Clase's first pitch of that outing was a 93-mph slider that Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling took for a ball. Clase then retired the Tigers in order to finish off a 7-0 Cleveland win; he threw eight pitches in the game, five of which were strikes.
The prosecutors' list represents the specific pitches they plan to focus on in the upcoming trial of Clase and his Guardians teammate Luis Ortiz. Clase's 18 allegedly rigged pitches occurred over 17 games. Prosecutors also highlighted two pitches thrown by Ortiz that were allegedly rigged as well, although they didn't make details of the pitches public in the court documents, per Purdum.
"The government will only seek to prove that for one or more of approximately 18 of Clase's pitches, and for two of Ortiz's pitches, the defendants provided advance inside information about their pitches to others, who bet on them," U.S. attorney Joseph Nocella wrote in the filing.
Clase and Ortiz are facing wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy charges. They allegedly provided advance information to bettors about the type and location of specific pitches they threw during games. Both pitchers were arrested last year and pleaded not guilty. Their trial is scheduled to begin in November.
The two have been on leave since last summer.
Clase, 28, is a three-time All-Star and was named AL Reliever of the Year in 2024, his last full season. Ortiz, 27, joined the Guardians via trade before the 2025 season.
