Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz placed on paid leave due to MLB investigation reportedly related to gambling
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz was placed on leave Thursday amid an MLB investigation, the team announced.
The team did not provide details on the investigation, saying it was "not permitted to comment further at this time." The investigation is believed to be related to gambling, multiple sources told Zack Meisel and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Advertisement
Ortiz, 26, will go on paid leave through the All-Star break, per Meisel.
The news comes just hours before Ortiz was expected to take the mound against the Chicago Cubs. With Ortiz on leave, the Guardians will turn to Joey Cantillo to start Thursday's game.
After a promising season in 2024, in which Ortiz posted a 3.32 ERA over 37 appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he was traded to the Guardians in December. He opened the season in Cleveland's rotation and has a 4.36 ERA over 88 2/3 innings.
In 16 starts, Ortiz has a 4-9 record. His nine losses lead the American League.
If gambling is at the center of the investigation, Ortiz could face a wide range of consequences from the league. MLB banned former infielder Tucupita Marcano for life in 2024 after it was determined he bet on his own team while he was injured. Four other players received one-year bans after it was determined they bet on baseball, though not on their own teams. Those four players were reinstated from their suspensions in June.
Advertisement
MLB players are not allowed to gamble on baseball or softball at any level, though can gamble on other sports.
The news comes in the midst of a disappointing season for the Guardians. After entering the year with playoff aspirations, the team has a 40-44 record and sits in third place in the American League Central.
Cleveland is on a six-game losing streak entering Thursday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mercury Star Satou Sabally Sends Brutally Honest Message to WNBA Amid Tension
Mercury Star Satou Sabally Sends Brutally Honest Message to WNBA Amid Tension originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Less than 24 hours after the WNBA celebrated the league's biggest expansion yet, one of The W's brightest stars called out the decision makers loud and clear. Advertisement Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally didn't hold back when she spoke to reporters Tuesday. The WNBPA rep straight up called the league's latest CBA proposal a 'slap in the face,' per Front Office Sports. Sabally's frustration came as the league announced three new teams: Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, that will push the WNBA to a record 18 franchises by 2030. 'I love to see the league growing,' Sabally said. 'But how cool would it also be to have a little bit of expansion on the rosters? Let's focus on the teams that have everything set up right now.' Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally passes the ball against the New York Liberty© Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images The ongoing conversation comes as the WNBA is negotiating a new CBA with players as the current agreement expires in Oct. Players want more roster spots and improved pay before the league spreads itself thinner. Advertisement According to Colin Salao of Front Office Sports, the league sent its first proposal to the union last week. The insider's source revealed the pitch didn't fully address the players' concerns. The money flowing into the league is more lucrative than ever. Expansion teams paid a reported $250 million per franchise. The NBA and WNBA secured a new media rights deal worth as much as $3 billion. Still, players feel their share hasn't grown fast enough. Indiana Fever players Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson made it clear last week. 'It's time for a CBA that reflects our true value,' Cunningham said, per Sports Illustrated. Advertisement Even Caitlin Clark chimed in Tuesday on Instagram Live. 'We get more for [the Commissioner's Cup] than you do if you're a [WNBA champion]," Clark said candidly. "Makes no sense. Someone tell Cathy [Engelbert] to help us out.' The clock is ticking on a new deal, and Sabally is making sure everyone's watching. Related: Mercury Coach Doesn't Hold Back on Diana Taurasi's Possible Final Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Big Ten Powerhouse Predicted to Land Nation's No. 4 WR
Big Ten Powerhouse Predicted to Land Nation's No. 4 WR originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the college football offseason continues to roll on, a number of the top players in the 2026 recruiting class are deciding on which programs they want to play for, which includes wide receiver Calvin Russell out of Opa-locka, Florida. Advertisement It's soon to come as he has narrowed his options to four schools, choosing between the Michigan Wolverines, the Syracuse Orange, the Oregon Ducks and the Florida State Seminoles. Of course, any team would love to be his choice, and in an expert prediction from On3's Stephen Wagner, Russell will land with the Big Ten and play under head coach Sherrone Moore at Michigan. It would certainly give the Wolverines a reason to be excited, as On3 Industry Rankings have Russell as a five-star recruit, the No. 4 wide receiver, the No. 2 player in Florida and the No. 32 player in the nation. Miami Northwestern wide receiver Calvin Russell is predicted to land with the Michigan Peterman / Special to The Post / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Those high ratings are backed up by some solid stats at the high school level. Russell accumulated 35 receptions, 645 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games last season for the Miami Northwestern Bulls. Advertisement Considering how highly he's already viewed and the fact that he stands at 6-foot-5.5 and 190 pounds, Russell is the kind of player who could come in and compete for playing time as a true freshman. He could also add nicely to the already impressive 2026 recruiting class that Michigan and Moore have built up. It features 20 players, ranking No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 11 in the nation. However, it will remain to be seen if this prediction becomes a reality, with the wide receiver set to announce his commitment at 9 p.m. ET Saturday. Related: Ohio State Predicted to Lose Nation's No. 6 Recruit to SEC Powerhouse This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
32 minutes ago
- CBS News
Chicago shooting survivor says she's on verge of homelessness, can't get help from city programs
Chicago shooting survivor says she's on verge of homelessness, can't get help from city programs Chicago shooting survivor says she's on verge of homelessness, can't get help from city programs Chicago shooting survivor says she's on verge of homelessness, can't get help from city programs A survivor of a shooting in Chicago says she is now on the verge of homelessness as she's been denied financial assistance from city and federal programs. Kalisha Pettus was shot five times in her abdomen by her friend's brother, who was high on drugs at the time, on April 29, 2024, while visiting their house in Chicago. "I just remember vividly, just, it was just straight across," she said. "Like a target board practice, almost; like he had been practicing, all chest and stomach shots." Pettus' life changed forever after the shooting. Her left leg had to be amputated when it lost blood flow, her medical records show. She had 15 surgeries and 150 blood transfusions to shave her life. "I also struggled with my digestive system. Had to be totally repaired," Pettus said. Before the shooting, she did CrossFit five times a week and worked in the hospitality industry. She was attending school for nutrition when she was shot and said she couldn't go back after because she couldn't afford it anymore. Her family set up a GoFundMe to help her. She's applied for jobs to work from home but hasn't been able to find work. "I'm on a strict no work order, no return to work order, from my doctor's office because of ongoing medical issues," she said. She's also applied for assistance from various city agencies, including from the Department of Family Support Services Rental Assistance Program, who denied her application, and the Emergency Supplemental Victims Fund, who she said also denied her application. Pettus also applied for benefits through Social Security, and was denied by them as well. They told her she didn't "qualify for benefits" an was "not disabled" under their rules. That has left her feeling revictimized. And as if things couldn't get worse, Pettus said she's now facing eviction from her South Loop apartment after she's been unable to get the financial support she needs from city programs to pay her rent. "If I don't get the funding, I have nowhere to go, except a homeless shelter," she said. Pettus said she plans to start a nonprofit called Heal and Thrive Chicago that will help other survivors of gun violence. "I feel like God put me in this position for a reason. I was strong enough to fight back, to be a voice for so many other people," she said. Meantime, she continues her own fight for survival. "I'm still in survival mode. Still haven't been able to properly heal and process what's happened to me," Pettus said.
