MLB isn’t just battling pitch clocks and pace-of-play—it’s now juggling something far darker. The Cleveland Guardians, a franchise built on tradition and trust, suddenly find themselves in a headline no team wants. As MLB’s rulebook gathers dust in some corners, it’s Rule 21 that’s back in the spotlight. And if recent whispers are true, this story won’t be scrubbed clean with a press release.

Either the players are not interested in playing baseball, or they are very interested in sabotaging their careers. It has got to be either one of these, because even after the consequences of “allegedly” doping and “allegedly” fixing games, they are still doing it. Or at least that is what MLB insider Hector Gomez is saying.

In his recent X post, he reported that there is solid evidence against Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. “The evidence against Guardians closer Enmanuel Clase and SP Luis Ortiz are irrefutable. The investigation has been ongoing since last season, per @TenchyRodNYC,” the MLB insider penned down. 

The investigation into Guardians pitchers Clase and Ortiz began with two suspicious pitches. Ortiz, who was placed on leave July 3, saw betting activity spike around two oddly thrown sliders. Both occurred in June, at the start of innings, and landed well outside the strike zone. With sportsbooks allowing wagers on a pitch-by-pitch basis, the red flags were impossible for MLB to ignore.

Those pitches weren’t just wild—they were invitations for scrutiny, begging questions MLB couldn’t afford to avoid. On June 15, a bet was placed that Ortiz’s first pitch would be a ball or hit a batter. The pitch bounced in the dirt, raising suspicions among league officials and gambling monitors alike. A similar bet hit on June 27, when Ortiz missed the zone by several feet again.

Then came the bombshell: Clase’s name surfaced in connection with the same investigation, complicating Cleveland’s deadline. By August 1, both Clase’s and Ortiz’s lockers were cleared out, stirring deeper speculation in the clubhouse. Their leaves have been extended through August 31, and no resolution has yet been made public. With potential lifetime bans looming, the Guardians may have seen these pitchers throw their final MLB pitches.

Baseball has always flirted with scandal, but this isn’t just a brush—it’s a full-blown affair. From whispers to “irrefutable” evidence, MLB’s investigation is no longer just smoke; it’s starting to smell like fire. If Hector Gomez’s claims hold, Clase and Ortiz may have pitched themselves out of the sport entirely. In a league obsessed with spin rate, it’s poetic irony that deception off the mound might be their downfall.

Fans demand that MLB take some steps after the alleged gambling news gets worse

Major League Baseball can handle rain delays, blown calls, and even the occasional bench-clearing brawl—but this is different. The Guardians are now knee-deep in a saga that already features Clase and Ortiz as cautionary tales in cleats. With “irrefutable evidence” floating around like sunflower seeds in the dugout, fans aren’t just restless—they’re demanding action. At this point, MLB’s silence is doing more damage than any breaking ball ever could.

“When you let wolves look over the sheep…” feels less like a metaphor, more like a headline. The fan points fingers at MLB’s deep ties with @FanDuel, @DraftKings, and other betting giants. With gambling partnerships flooding the sport, blurred lines now lead straight to players like Clase and Ortiz. When money meets temptation, it’s no surprise that the wolves stopped guarding and started hunting.

“I think it’s the culture of the Cleveland team…” is a fan’s torch-lit call for justice. The commenter believes the Guardians either ignored signs or “don’t know baseball” at all. They compare this scandal to Pete Rose, who was banned for life in 1989 for gambling. The fan adds, “Suspend the entire organization from ever playing the sport again,” calling for collective accountability. In their view, if Rose lost Cooperstown, Clase and Ortiz shouldn’t get a second pitch.

“Neither of them are going to pitch in the majors again. Idiots,” captures raw fan frustration instantly. The comment reflects how seriously gambling violations are viewed under MLB’s unforgiving Rule 21. Just last year, Tucupita Marcano was banned for life after betting while injured on his own team. In this case, Clase and Ortiz allegedly influenced outcomes directly, which makes the situation even more damning. When trust is the currency of the game, some fans believe they’ve already gone bankrupt.

“If MLB opens that door, they gonna fall with all the gamblers. Pure double standard.” stings hard. The fan suggests MLB won’t take real action because it’s entangled with betting partners. With companies like MGMBET and Polymarket plastered across broadcasts, neutrality feels like a losing bet. The comment accuses the league of preaching integrity while pocketing sportsbook cash in the background. When money and morals clash, some believe MLB’s strike zone shifts conveniently wide.

“Lifetime ban. Is this why Clase shit the bed in the playoffs??” nails a fan’s bitterness and suspicion exactly. Many believe  Clase’s postseason collapse in 2024, specifically Game 3 and Game 4 of the ALCS, reflects something far more than mere tightness. In Game 3, he surrendered back-to-back homers to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in the eighth inning, losing a two‑run lead. The next night in Game 4, Clase allowed two more runs in the ninth—raising his postseason ERA to 10.29 despite a sparkling 0.61 regular season ERA. That dramatic contrast fuels the fan’s belief that both players “should be banned for life,” given alleged wrongdoing and the irony of timing.

From metaphorical wolves to postseason meltdowns, the fans aren’t just watching—they’re building the case themselves. When trust in MLB is eroding faster than Clase’s ERA in October, silence isn’t strategy; it’s surrender. Gambling may be baseball’s shiny new revenue stream, but it’s drowning in suspicion pitch by pitch. If Rule 21 still matters, then it’s time to enforce it with more than PR statements and partnerships. Because when the fans are doing the policing, the league’s already lost control of the dugout.