Federal prosecutors have identified 18 pitches they intend to use as evidence in the gambling-related case against former Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, narrowing the scope of allegations ahead of a trial scheduled to begin in November.
Court filings submitted Friday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York detail pitches thrown by Clase across 17 games between May 2023 and May 2025. Prosecutors allege that advance information about those pitches was shared with bettors, who then placed wagers on specific outcomes, including pitch location and velocity.
Clase, former Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz, and two additional defendants face charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy. All have entered not guilty pleas. Jury selection is expected to start in November.
The latest filings provide the clearest picture yet of the evidence prosecutors plan to present, reducing the number of games under scrutiny from earlier stages of the investigation.
Focus Shifts to Specific Pitches
According to the court documents cited by ESPN, prosecutors will concentrate on 18 pitches thrown by Clase rather than the broader pool initially examined during the investigation.
One of the pitches highlighted in the filings came during the 2024 American League Division Series. The pitch in question was the first offering to Detroit Tigers hitter Matt Vierling in the ninth inning of Cleveland’s 7-0 victory on Oct. 5, 2024. Prosecutors identified it as a 93 mph slider that missed the strike zone.
The list also includes a pitch thrown to New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte during a game on May 19, 2023. Other pitches cited span regular-season contests against hitters from multiple clubs, including the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Court records show the alleged pitches were distributed across both the 2023 and 2025 seasons, with prosecutors selecting individual pitches from specific at-bats rather than entire games.
Although investigators previously examined a larger number of appearances, the government has now outlined a more focused approach for trial.
“The government will only seek to prove that for one or more of approximately 18 of Clase’s pitches, and for two of Ortiz’s pitches, the defendants provided advance inside information about their pitches to others, who bet on them,” U.S. attorney Joseph Nocella wrote.
The statement appeared in court filings submitted as preparations continue for the November proceedings.
Ortiz Also Named in Alleged Scheme
Prosecutors allege that Ortiz participated in the same operation by supplying information about two pitches before they were thrown. However, unlike the list produced for Clase, the filings do not identify the specific Ortiz pitches prosecutors intend to discuss during the trial.
Authorities have previously linked unusual betting activity to two Ortiz outings in June 2025. Sportsbooks reportedly flagged wagering patterns involving individual pitches during those games, prompting further scrutiny.
The latest filings did not provide additional details regarding the two pitches attributed to Ortiz, though prosecutors indicated they remain part of the case.
Both pitchers have been away from Major League Baseball since 2025 while legal proceedings continue. Sources differ on the timing of their leave periods, but all report that neither player has returned to game action since being sidelined amid the investigation.
Earlier filings from the defense revealed that prosecutors had initially reviewed a much broader group of appearances involving Clase. According to documents submitted by Ortiz’s attorney in February, investigators had at one point identified at least 48 games involving potentially suspicious pitches from the former Guardians closer.
The government’s current strategy narrows that number considerably, concentrating on a smaller set of examples it believes can support the charges.
Allegations Center on Betting Information
Federal authorities contend that bettors received advance knowledge regarding certain pitches before they occurred. Prosecutors allege the information allowed wagers to be placed on micro-betting markets tied to pitch-by-pitch outcomes.
According to the allegations, bettors used information concerning pitch characteristics such as velocity and location to place targeted wagers.
Court records cited in the case also allege that Clase and Ortiz received payments in exchange for providing information to individuals connected to bettors in the Dominican Republic. Prosecutors claim the arrangement enabled winning wagers totaling as much as $500,000. The defendants deny the allegations.
The November trial is expected to examine whether advance information was intentionally supplied and whether that information was used to place bets on specific pitches.