Major League Baseball (MLB) has started investigating suspicious betting activity involving Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz. The 26-year-old has been placed on paid, non-disciplinary leave at the moment.

The decision came just hours before Ortiz was set to take the mound against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

Investigation Triggered by Unusual Betting Trends

MLB Probes Luis Ortiz Over Suspicious Betting Patterns, Guardians Pitcher MLB Probes Luis Ortiz Over Suspicious Betting Patterns, Guardians Pitcher
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Although MLB has not publicly released the contents of the investigation, ESPN states the inquiry is related to gambling issues. The investigations are for two particular pitches Ortiz made—one on June 15 versus the Seattle Mariners and another on June 27 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Both pitches were flagged by betting integrity firm IC360, which tracks suspect manipulation of sports bets, as drawing unusual betting interest. On both occasions, there was a spike in bets being made that the first pitch of the inning by Ortiz would be a ball or a hit batsman.

On June 15, Ortiz bobbled a slider into the dirt well outside the strike zone at the bottom of the second inning. And then on June 27, he wild-pitched a third one in the top of the third that eluded the catcher. Although errant pitches like these are not rare even for veteran pitchers, the frequency and exactness of bets made on these happenings were red flags.

Bets Placed in Multiple States

The bets were originally from Ohio, New York, and New Jersey, three states that legalized sports betting. The cross-state nature of the bets added to the suspicions, leading MLB to intervene quickly alongside IC360 and the MLB Players Association.

Ortiz, who has appeared in 16 games this year, has a 4.36 ERA with 96 strikeouts. He has not yet been charged with anything and is still on paid leave until the All-Star break, with league games to resume on July 18.

Team Reacts to League Action

In response to the league's report, the Guardians released a short statement affirming Ortiz's status. According to Fox News, the league notified the organization that the Dominican player has been placed on leave per an agreement with the Players Association.

As of writing, the Guardians have decided not to comment further about the ongoing league probe. The team will respect MLB's confidential investigative process.

League Steps Up Betting Integrity Focus

This inquiry follows increased scrutiny of the nexus between professional sports and legalized betting. Truly, wagering has become increasingly accessible, but professional athletes should never lower their guard because integrity firms are on close surveillance for anomalies that might indicate manipulation or insider information.

Depending on what the investigation turns up, Ortiz might be back on the mound as soon as mid-July. If, however, some form of misconduct is uncovered, there could be disciplinary action.