MLB Agrees to Share US Senate-Requested Gambling Probe Docs
Posted on: November 20, 2025, 02:11h.
Last updated on: November 20, 2025, 02:45h.
- A US Senate committee asked for MLB gambling investigation docs
- Two MLB pitchers have been indicted for their alleged involvement in a betting scandal
- MLB commissioner says he wants to get ahead of any future inappropriate behavior around prop betting
With the spotlight shining more on gambling scandals surrounding pro athletes in several sports, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said MLB will share gambling investigation documents with a US Senate committee as it conducts its probe.
MLB is conducting its own internal investigations into two Cleveland Guardians pitchers who allegedly rigged pitches during games so gamblers they were in business with could cash in on bets. Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted on charges earlier this month that they took bribes from sports bettors to throw certain types of pitches, including throwing pitches into the dirt instead of strikes.
According to the indictments, the two pitchers took thousands of dollars in payoffs from gamblers from their native Dominican Republic to help the gamblers win $460K on in-game prop betting on the speed and outcome of certain pitches.
Pitchers Allegedly Rigging Pitches
Both players have denied the charges. Each pitcher faces up to 65 years in prison if convicted of all the charges. Both men are due back in court on December 2.
Ortiz, a starting pitcher, and Clase, an all-star relief pitcher, have been on nondisciplinary paid leave since July, when MLB started its investigation after noticing an unusually high amount of in-game betting activity during games in April, May and June.
MLB Sets Limits on Bets
After the indictments, MLB announced a new policy on sports betting in partnership with its sports betting partners. Gaming operators now cap prop bets on individual pitches at $200 and exclude them from parlays.
We think the steps we’ve taken in terms of limiting the size of these prop bets and prohibiting parlays off them is a really, really significant change that should reduce the incentive for anyone to be involved in an inappropriate way,” Manfred said.
The commissioner added that the league intends to take its time with its own investigation into the two pitchers.
Sens. Ted Cruz (R) and Maria Cantwell (D) of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee sent the letter to Manfred asking for the documentation, which they asked to have by December 5.
NBA Betting Scandal Update
The NBA has had its own sports betting-related headaches recently.
In October, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Hall of Fame Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were arrested for their alleged involvement in illegal betting and poker schemes. The FBI arrested multiple people around both investigations.
Billups has been accused of taking part in illegal poker games where people were bilked out of millions of dollars. Those poker games involved the mafia, according to the FBI.
In Rozier’s case, the FBI said he was involved in a scheme to provide inside information to manipulate prop betting between 2023 and 2024. The NBA had investigated Rozier over the issue previously and had cleared him. At that time, they investigated unusual betting activity when Rozier was a member of the Charlotte Hornets in 2023 — an investigation that led to the lifetime ban for former Toronto Raptor Jontay Porter.
Both Billups and Rozier were placed on leave by the NBA.
“Terry was cleared by the NBA, and these prosecutors revived that non-case,” said Rozier’s lawyer. “Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight.”
Former NBA player Damon Jones is also accused by the FBI of having been involved in both schemes.
No comments yet