It’s hard to imagine the details surrounding Emmanuel Clase’s role in a sports gambling scandal getting any worse. Not only is his MLB career certainly over, but the former Cleveland Guardians pitcher is facing multiple criminal charges related to the scheme.
Now, specific details are being revealed about the extent of his role and how often the Guardians may have been affected by it. From a pure baseball perspective, it is both shocking and disheartening.
A major update has emerged about Clase that states the closer threw suspect pitches in almost 50 games over a two-year span.
“Indicted Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase is accused of throwing suspect pitches to benefit bettors in at least 48 games over two years, significantly more than was initially revealed by federal prosecutors, according to a court document filed Thursday,” David Purdum wrote on X.
Indicted Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase is accused of throwing suspect pitches to benefit bettors in at least 48 games over two years, significantly more than was initially revealed by federal prosecutors, according to a court document filed Thursday.
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) February 6, 2026
When Clase was first put on leave by MLB, along with fellow Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz, initial reports cited a mere handful of pitches that were allegedly thrown to benefit bettors making prop wagers. Now, it is clear it was much more than that, for a longer period of time than was first thought.
Reports state that Clase may have thrown as many as 250 suspect pitches during games from 2023 to 2025. In those three seasons, the All-Star closer appeared in 197 regular-season games for the Guardians, and an additional seven in the playoffs.
It is unknown if any of the pitches had a direct impact on the outcome of any particular game. However, in a role that was usually limited to one inning on the mound, the amount of pitches involved is substantial.
According to ESPN, Clase has pleaded not guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting events by bribery. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charges.
Incredibly, the Guardians were able to overcome this scandal and rally to win the AL Central for a second consecutive season. Cade Smith excelled taking over as the closer and is entering spring training looking to build on his impressive late-season performance.
Hopefully, the Guardians can keep this in the past and avoid a lingering effect on the 2026 season as more details possibly come to light.
NEXT: Guardians Defense Projected To Be Among MLB's Best In 2026
