Cleveland Guardians right-hander Luis Ortiz is below investigation by Main League Baseball for breaking the league’s guidelines on sports activities playing, sources instructed ESPN on Thursday, and he has been positioned on “non-disciplinary paid go away” by way of July 17.
The investigation into Ortiz’s alleged playing comes a bit greater than a 12 months after MLB levied a lifetime ban in opposition to San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano for putting practically 400 bets on baseball. 4 different gamers acquired one-year suspensions for playing on baseball whereas within the minor leagues.
The paid go away for Ortiz, which ends on the conclusion of the All-Star break, was negotiated between the league and the MLB Gamers Affiliation. If the investigation stays open, the go away could possibly be prolonged.
Ortiz had been scheduled to begin Thursday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Chicago Cubs.
A 26-year-old beginning pitcher, Ortiz was acquired by Cleveland from the Pittsburgh Pirates over the winter as a part of the three-team commerce by which the Guardians despatched second baseman Andres Gimenez to the Toronto Blue Jays. With a 4-9 document and 4.36 ERA, Ortiz has been a staple in a Guardians rotation whose 4.13 ERA ranks 18th in MLB.
Ortiz’s go away comes amid a slide for the Guardians, who’ve misplaced six consecutive video games to drop to 40-44. Whereas Cleveland stays in second place within the American League Central, it trails first-place Detroit by 12½ video games.
Ortiz signed with the Pirates in 2018 at 19 years previous, far later than the everyday prospect, and did not attain full-season ball till 2021. He shortly shot by way of the Pittsburgh group and debuted in 2022, finally throwing 238⅓ innings and posting a 3.93 ERA in his three seasons with the Pirates.