Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz remains on paid leave as Major League Baseball extends its investigation into alleged gambling-related activity, the team announced Friday.
Ortiz’s leave, initially imposed earlier this month, has now been extended through August 31, following an agreement between MLB and the players’ union according to CBS Sports.
The probe began after a betting-integrity firm flagged two of Ortiz’s pitches in June that coincided with unusual betting patterns. One pitch on June 15 against Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena was called a ball, as was another on June 27.
Ortiz, 26, had a 4.36 ERA and a 2.29 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 88⅔ innings before being sidelined. He was acquired in an offseason three-team trade involving the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays.
MLB permits players to bet on legal sports except “diamond” sports, including baseball. Last year, infielder Tucupita Marcano was banned for life, and four others received one-year bans for betting on baseball games.
The Guardians, currently 46-49, trail by 12 games in the AL Central and will start the second half at home against the Oakland Athletics. The team says it will continue cooperating with MLB’s investigation.
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