Sports
Guardians pitchers indicted in gambling scheme involving MLB games
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Federal officials indicted two Major League Baseball pitchers on charges related to an alleged gambling scheme concocted to rig bets on games during the season.
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and All-Star pitcher Emmanuel Clase were the targets of the investigation and the two face charges in the alleged scheme. Ortiz was reportedly arrested in Boston earlier Sunday, while Clase has yet to be taken into custody.
The pitchers face charges of wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering. Both pitchers are from the Dominican Republic.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Emmanuel Clase, left, and Luis Ortiz, were indicted in a federal gambling probe on Nov. 9, 2025. (IMAGN)
“We are aware of the recent law enforcement action. We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue,” the team said.
MLB placed Ortiz and Clase on non-disciplinary paid leave due to a gambling probe on July 3. When Fox News Digital reached out for an update on the investigation on Oct. 22, MLB directed Fox News Digital to an August statement.
“MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process. We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” MLB’s statement on Sunday read.
Clase and Ortiz “conspired with bettors to rig pitches in professional baseball games so that the bettors would profit from illegal wagers made based on that inside information,” the indictment read. “The defendants agreed in advance with their co-conspirators to throw specific types and speeds of pitchers, and their co-conspirators used that inside information to place wagers on those pitches.
“In some instances, the defendants received bribes and kickback payments – funneled through third parties – in exchange for rigging pitches. Through this scheme, the defendants defrauded betting platforms, deprived Major League Baseball and the Cleveland Guardians of their honest services, illegally enriched themselves and their co-conspirators, misled the public and betrayed America’s past time.”
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase during a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, in San Francisco, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, file)
DARRYL STRAWBERRY THANKS TRUMP FOR PARDON THAT MAKES HIM ‘TRULY FREE AND CLEAN FROM ALL OF MY PAST’
Officials said in the indictment that from May 2023 to June 2025 Clase agreed with one co-conspirator to “throw specific pitches in certain MLB games” so that the bettors they were allegedly partnered with “would profit from illegal wagers made based on that inside information.” Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in June 2025.
The indictment said Clase conferred with one bettor throw a ball on the first pitch of an at-bat when he was brought into games in relief. The indictment pointed to instances in the following games, including May 19, 2023, vs. the New York Mets, June 2, 2023, vs. the Minnesota Twins and June 7, 2023, vs. the Boston Red Sox.
Clase allegedly began to request and receive bribes and kickback payments for agreeing to throw the specific pitches in April, according to the indictment. In one instance, the indictment said Clase used his phone in the middle of a game to coordinate with a bettor on a pitch he would throw.
Cleveland Guardians’ Luis Ortiz pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, in Cleveland, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
Bettors allegedly won $400,000 from betting platforms on pitchers thrown by Clase between 2023 and 2025.
When Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme, the indictment said he agreed to throw balls over strikes on certain pitches in exchange for bribes or kickbacks. He allegedly agreed to throw a ball on June 15 against the Seattle Mariners for around $5,000 in his first pitch in the second inning.
The indictment said Ortiz agreed to throw a ball in his first pitch of the third inning on June 27 against the St. Louis Cardinals for $7,000.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
In June 2025, bettors won at least $60,000 on pitches thrown by Ortiz.
The indictment announcement came weeks after three NBA figures were swept up in an FBI operation involving illegal gambling. Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones were among the more than two dozen arrested in the scheme.
READ THE INDICTMENT BELOW
After a commanding 5-1 win over Latvia, the United States men’s hockey team was back in action for Game 2 of the preliminary round in the 2026 Olympics.
Saturday’s game was against Denmark, which lost 3-1 to Germany in its first game. The United States won, 6-3.
The U.S. now sits atop Group C, with six points. The top team from each group gets a bye into the quarterfinal round of the tournament, which begins Wednesday.
Center Brock Nelson led the U.S. in scoring after one game, with two goals, while forwards Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk and defenseman Quinn Hughes all had two assists. Forwards Auston Matthews, Tage Thompson and Brady Tkachuk were the other goal scorers in the opening contest.
More: Men’s hockey megapreview | Lapsed fan’s guide | Player rankings
Former Princeton star Caden Pierce, the 2023-24 Ivy League Player of the Year, is transferring to Purdue, he told ESPN on Friday.
Pierce is sitting out this season to finish his degree at Princeton before playing his final season in West Lafayette in 2026-27. He announced his intentions to transfer over the summer before officially entering the portal in October.
The 6-foot-7 forward also considered UConn, Duke, Louisville and Gonzaga before picking Purdue.
“I went on all five visits, just looking for the place that felt most like home for one year for me,” Pierce said. “Purdue obviously has an unbelievable program that coach [Matt] Painter has built over the years. When I was on campus, with the coaches and with the guys, it felt like a great place for me. I wanted to be a part of that program. Mackey Arena is one of the best venues in college basketball, and I can be part of something special.”
Pierce, the younger brother of Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce and former North Carolina forward Justin Pierce, started 89 games during his three seasons with the Tigers. He won Ivy League Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2023, playing a key role on Princeton’s Sweet 16 team, including a 16-rebound performance in a NCAA tournament second-round win over Missouri.
His breakout came as a sophomore, when he averaged 16.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game and won Ivy League Player of the Year honors. Among the 22 low- and mid-major conference players of the year in 2023-24, Pierce was the only one to return to the same school the following season.
He battled through injuries for most of last season, with an ankle injury in late December resulting in two fully torn ligaments and two partially torn ligaments. He nonetheless earned second-team All-Ivy honors, averaging 11.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
“I’m feeling great,” Pierce said. “That’s been the nice thing about this year. I’ve been able to address whatever deficiencies I had without feeling like I had to play through injury or whatever I had. I was able to move at my own pace, get my body feeling great and stronger than ever.
“It’s been a different, unique year. That’s the only way to put it. I’ve never taken a full year off of competitive basketball. It’s been a little bit of an adjustment. I’m still working out, getting all my work in, but it’s by myself. I’ve had limited opportunities to play 5-on-5. Being removed from a competitive environment for this long has made me gain a new appreciation for the competitive side of basketball and the camaraderie in the locker room.”
At Purdue, Pierce will be part of a sizable reload and should slot into the Boilermakers’ starting lineup immediately. Painter will lose four starters, including All-American Braden Smith and program stalwarts Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer. C.J. Cox is expected to return in the backcourt, while reserves Omer Mayer, Jack Benter, Gicarri Harris and Daniel Jacobsen could all see expanded roles.
The Boilermakers are also bringing in a top-15 recruiting class, a group that includes three SC Next 100 prospects: Luke Ertel, Sinan Huan and Jacob Webber.
“They’re losing a lot of guys, a lot of older guys, a lot of seniors,” Pierce said. “It’s going to be a younger team. One of the things that makes coach Painter so respectable is he didn’t promise anything throughout the process. ‘You’re still going to have to earn anything, but the opportunity is going to be there. You’re an older guy, make your presence felt in the locker room and on the floor.’ That’s kind of why they wanted me.
“It appeals to me. I’m really looking forward to making my presence felt. Getting in the locker room with a good group of guys and being a part of something.”
Sports
Americans attending Olympics urged to ‘exercise caution’ after Italian railways hit by suspected ‘sabotage’
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Railways “associated with the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics” suffered from suspected “sabotage” on Friday, the U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs announced Saturday.
The Rome-Naples, Rome-Florence, and Rome-Milan high-speed lines reportedly suffered damage earlier on Saturday, the Bureau said, citing confirmation from the Italian government.
“On February 13, Italian authorities announced enhanced security measures to prevent disruptions to railway networks during the Winter Olympics. These efforts include increased patrols along the tracks and rigorous technical monitoring of railway services,” the Bureau’s statement posted on social media read.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
A general view of the Tofane mountains as the Winter Olympic Mascot, Tina, greets the crowd ahead of the Women’s Alpine Downhill Skiing at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, Cortina d’Ampezzo, on day two of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. ( Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)
“Avoid areas of disruption and exercise caution when traveling by train. Utilize good situational awareness and attempt to leave any affected areas immediately,” the statement continued.
Authorities were investigating burnt cables, according to Reuters.
Officials urged anyone traveling on the lines to be extra cautious and allow additional travel time.
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini condemned the acts.
“These are hateful criminal acts aimed at workers and at Italy,” he said, via Reuters. “I hope that no one plays down or tries to justify these crimes which put lives at risk.”
General view as gold medalist Xandra Velzeboer of Team Netherlands, silver medalist Arianna Fontana of Team Italy and bronze medalist Courtney Sarault of Team Canada participate in the national anthem during the medal ceremony for the Short Track Speed Skating Women’s 500m on day six of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 12, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Joosep Martinson/Getty Images)
National police said that these were “definitely criminal acts.”
Similar incidents occurred earlier in the Games, with BBC reporting that severed cables and an explosive device were found between Bologna and Venice.
“These actions of unprecedented seriousness do not in any way tarnish Italy’s image in the world, an image that the Games will make even more compelling and positive,” Salvini said at the time of the first incident.
A general view inside the Arena during the Figure Skating Team Event Men Single Skating – Short Program of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan. (Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Games conclude on Feb. 22, a week from Sunday.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter
Jacob Elordi sparks controversy with inappropriate gesture at Airport
2026 Olympics: Top moments from USA-Denmark men’s hockey
Katie Price slams ‘snakes’ in blunt post following viral wedding
How a factory error in China created a viral “crying horse” Lunar New Year trend
Aye Finance IPO Day 2: GMP Remains Zero; Apply Or Not? Check Price, GMP, Financials, Recommendations
New York Is the Latest State to Consider a Data Center Pause
-
Entertainment1 week agoHow a factory error in China created a viral “crying horse” Lunar New Year trend
-
Business5 days ago
Aye Finance IPO Day 2: GMP Remains Zero; Apply Or Not? Check Price, GMP, Financials, Recommendations
-
Tech1 week agoNew York Is the Latest State to Consider a Data Center Pause
-
Fashion4 days agoComment: Tariffs, capacity and timing reshape sourcing decisions
-
Tech1 week agoNordProtect Makes ID Theft Protection a Little Easier—if You Trust That It Works
-
Tech1 week agoPrivate LTE/5G networks reached 6,500 deployments in 2025 | Computer Weekly
-
Business1 week agoStock market today: Here are the top gainers and losers on NSE, BSE on February 6 – check list – The Times of India
-
Business1 week agoMandelson’s lobbying firm cuts all ties with disgraced peer amid Epstein fallout