The pending outcome of Major League Baseball’s inquiry into starting pitcher Luis Ortiz creates uncertainty for The Guardians. Little information has been publicized and what lies ahead for Ortiz’s career remains uncertain. It is known that Ortiz has been placed on compensated leave by MLB, a condition that ensures he receives his wage, but forbids him from throwing another pitch pending the completion of the investigation. As it stands, his leave is scheduled to last through the All-Star break, terminating on July 17.
What is sealed, at least for the time being, is that The Guardians has made no public statement about the issue. The inquiry into Ortiz is allegedly associated with gambling, yet the league has not officially confirmed the nature of the probe. The league’s exact words indicated that Ortiz ‘has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through the end of the All-Star break.’ Meanwhile, The Guardians confirmed their inability to comment, pledging to uphold the league’s confidential investigative process.
The nucleus of this investigation is focused on two particular pitches delivered by Ortiz, which enhanced scrutiny and initiated the current inquiry. This review is frequently kickstarted by suspicious betting behaviors, particularly on specific types of wagers. Each questionable pitch from Ortiz marked the beginning of its respective inning and is referred to as ‘microbets’. Bets can be placed speculating whether the initial pitch of an inning will be a ball or a strike.
When these ‘microbets’ become the focus of abnormal gambling activities, alerts are triggered. Following this, the plays are examined based on video footage, potentially leading to a formal investigation. The first pitch that aroused suspicion was delivered on June 15 against the Seattle Mariners. Ortiz’s opening pitch of the second inning to Randy Arozarena was a slider, smashed into the dirt leading to a walk and eventually five runs in this inning.
The subsequent suspicious pitch took place on June 27 during a match against the St. Louis Cardinals. Ortiz, kicking off the third inning versus Pedro Pages, delivered a slider so far wide that it hit the backstop. On both instances, Ortiz inaugurated certain innings with pitches that substantially missed the strike zone. Going forward, The Guardians will be required to patiently wait for the league’s verdict on these observations.
If these reports are substantiated following the investigation, Ortiz might have to brace himself for substantial consequences. Recent precedents from MLB suggest that penalties for gambling discrepancies majorly vary, from a one-year suspension to a potential lifetime prohibition. Ortiz has been ruled out until the conclusion of the All-Star break. An announcement regarding the outcome of his investigation is awaited post the end of the break, while the possibility of further extending his leave looms.
This interim period holds uncertainty for The Guardians as it is confirmed that Ortiz would be missing the next few turns of the rotation. Ortiz arrived at The Guardians over the offseason via a series of trading activities involving Gold Glove middle infielder Andres Gimenez. At the beginning of the season, Ortiz had accumulated a mere 1.121 years of service time, solidifying his place in the club until the 2029 season.
In his absence, Joey Cantillo has been summoned from the Triple-A team and is slated to replace Ortiz in the upcoming Chicago match. The current starting rotation is hence Cantillo, followed by Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Slade Cecconi, and Logan Allen. Ortiz’s paid leave also creates an opportunity for Cantillo to clock more innings, enabling The Guardians to restructure their strategy.
The team will need to brace for a deeper defensive crack as they await Shane Bieber’s recuperation from Tommy John surgery. With Bieber not yet prepared for a return and Ortiz’s baseball activities paused for the foreseeable future, The Guardians will have to grapple with their limited starting rotation resources. Amid these hindrances, the team aims to remain within a competitive reach of a coveted playoff post.