FEDS LIST 18 "RIGGED PITCHES": Emmanuel Clase Gambling Case Heads to November Trial

Federal prosecutors just dropped the list. Eighteen pitches. Seventeen games. In court documents filed Friday, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York named the exact pitches it plans to put in front of a jury at Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase's gambling trial, set for November (ESPN).

The list covers pitches Clase threw from May 19, 2023 to May 28, 2025 — and the government says Clase fed bettors advance information about the location and velocity of those pitches, so they could wager on the result. Prosecutors allege Clase received bribes and kickbacks in return, and that the bettors won at least $400,000 off the scheme (Deadspin).

Even a playoff pitch made the list

One of the named pitches came in the 2024 ALDS — Game 1 against the Detroit Tigers. Clase's first pitch to Matt Vierling, a 93-mph slider that missed the zone. The Guardians won that game 7-0 (theScore). Another flagged pitch came against the Mets' Starling Marte in May 2023 (NY Post).

Ortiz accused on two pitches

Teammate Luis Ortiz is accused of tipping two pitches of his own. The indictment says Ortiz joined the scheme in June 2025 — allegedly paid $5,000 to intentionally throw a ball against the Seattle Mariners on June 15, and $7,000 for a similar act against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 27, his final game of the 2025 season (Deadspin, NY Post).

The charges

Four defendants — Clase, Ortiz, and two others — face wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy charges. All have pleaded not guilty. Jury selection is set for November (theScore).

Clase is 28 — a three-time All-Star and the 2024 American League Reliever of the Year — and has been on non-disciplinary paid leave since last July. An earlier filing had flagged suspect pitches in as many as 48 games.

🧠 SNUBBZ TAKE

One of the filthiest closers baseball has ever seen, accused of selling pitches to the gambling streets. If the feds prove it, that's a Hall-of-Fame career turned cautionary tale overnight. Every ticket, every parlay, every bet on a game he closed — was your money ever fair? Drop a comment. 👇