Former Guardians Pitcher Clase Accused of Postseason Pitch Rigging

New court documents allege Clase used coded language to help bettors profit from doctored pitches during 2024 playoffs

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Prosecutors have unsealed new documents that allege former Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase engaged in an illegal sports gambling scheme, including doctoring pitches during the 2024 postseason. The documents claim Clase used coded language to communicate with alleged bettors and that he threw at least two rigged pitches in the Guardians' Game 1 win over the Tigers in the 2024 ALDS.

Why it matters

These new allegations against Clase are even more damaging than the previous accusations, as they involve him allegedly compromising the integrity of the playoffs. This will further erode trust between Clase, the Guardians organization, and their fanbase, and raises questions about the fairness of the Guardians' 2024 postseason run.

The details

According to the indictment, Clase spoke with alleged bettors using a code where they referred to batters as 'chicken' and 'rooster' when Clase would throw doctored pitches to help them profit. Prosecutors have identified 15 instances from 2023-2025 where Clase is accused of throwing rigged pitches. They also unveiled evidence that Clase threw two suspicious pitches in the Guardians' Game 1 win over the Tigers in the 2024 ALDS.

  • Clase was placed on paid leave by the Guardians at the end of July 2025.
  • Clase's trial is set to begin on May 4, 2026 in Brooklyn, New York.

The players

Emmanuel Clase

A former pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians who is accused of participating in an illegal sports gambling scheme, including doctoring pitches during the 2024 postseason.

Luis Ortiz

A Guardians pitcher who wants to have his trial separate from Clase's, believing he was duped into participating in the scheme.

Robinson Vasquez Germosen

One of the accused bettors who allegedly served as a middleman between Clase and the bettors, stayed at Clase's home in Cleveland, and is accused of lying to federal agents.

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What’s next

The judge in Clase's case will decide on whether to delay the trial, which is currently scheduled to begin on May 4, 2026.

The takeaway

The new allegations that Clase doctored pitches during the 2024 postseason represent a serious breach of integrity that will further damage his relationship with the Guardians organization and fanbase. This case continues to raise troubling questions about the fairness of the Guardians' 2024 playoff run.