MLB Extends Leave Of Former Pirates Pitcher Amid Gambling Investigation

Former Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Luis Ortiz will remain sidelined while Major League Baseball conducts a gambling investigation.

“MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to extend Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz’s non-disciplinary paid leave through games of Aug. 31 while MLB continues its investigation,” Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes reported Friday.

When the leave was first announced earlier this month, Ortiz’s leave was set to run through at least the All-Star break. According to Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto, Ortiz is under investigation for intentionally throwing a pair of balls which were tied to an abnormal amount of in-game sports betting.

“The investigation centers on two pitches that Ortiz threw: one on June 15 against the Seattle Mariners and a game with the St. Louis Cardinals on June 27,” USA Today’s Scooby Axson reported Friday. “There was unusual betting around prop bets surrounding those pitches, both sliders, against Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena and Cardinals catcher Pedro Pages.”

With his leave extended through August, Ortiz will go more than two full months without taking the mound.

The 26-year-old has made 16 starts for the Guardians, going 4-9 with a 4.36 ERA. He last pitched on June 27 in that suspect 5-0 loss to the Cardinals.

The right-hander signed with the Pirates in 2018 and made his MLB debut four years later.

Ortiz flashed his potential last season, going 7-6 with a 3.32 ERA in 37 appearances for Pittsburgh, including 15 starts. He struck out 107 batters in 135 2/3 innings pitched.

The Guardians acquired Ortiz from the Pirates in December as part of a three-team deal which sent infielder Spencer Horwitz to Pittsburgh. Horwitz has played in 49 games for the Pirates, hitting .225 with two home runs and 16 RBIs.

More Pirates: MLB Rumors: Pirates Ace Paul Skenes Chasing Dubious Cy Young Record