The Cleveland Guardians find themselves just outside of the playoff picture in the American League, sitting 3.5 games back for an AL Wild Card spot as we approach the home stretch of the 2025 MLB season. And unfortunately, they are set to lose perhaps the best player on their roster for much of the remainder of the season after his shocking potential involvement in a scandal came to light on Monday.
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has long been regarded as one of the best relief pitchers in all of baseball since entering the league in 2019, making three All-Star appearances over the course of his career. His play in 2024, where he had a 0.61 ERA in 74.1 innings, stacks up as one of the very best seasons from a relief pitcher in modern MLB history.
Unfortunately for Guardians fans, Clase is perhaps the biggest name to date that is rumored to be involved in the league’s ongoing investigation into sports gambling within the sport.
According to ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, Clase has been placed on administrative leave on Monday as the league investigates him about a potential involvement in sports gambling. He will be forced to miss time until at least August 31st, where the league will seemingly then make a determination on whether he was involved in sports gambling or not.
Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase’s non-disciplinary paid leave is through Aug. 31, MLB said in a statement.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 28, 2025
It’s quite shocking to see one of the best players at his respective position be involved in an investigation into sports gambling. But this is also interestingly not the first Guardians pitcher to be named in the MLB’s investigation into sports gambling in 2025.
Notably, fellow Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz was similarly placed on paid leave earlier this year, similarly to Clase, because of an investigation into his involvement in sports gambling.
Naturally, Guardians fans were incredibly disheartened by this report from Passan, with countless fans of the team hoping for Clase to be cleared of any potential involvement in sports gambling.
Beyond suboptimal. https://t.co/QP0sYCWfnl
— David P. Samson (@DavidPSamson) July 28, 2025
Luis Ortiz https://t.co/AKvRg96R6y pic.twitter.com/Ual0yxr1t0
— Razzball (@Razzball) July 28, 2025
This is absolutely disgusting.
A great career Emmanuel Clase up to this point, who was on track to be one of the greatest Cleveland Baseball players of all-time.
All that just went right out the window with gambling allegations.
I’m sick. #GuardsBall https://t.co/ugbPkedWgI
— Brady Hamilton (@BradyH_216) July 28, 2025
God gives Cleveland his toughest battles. https://t.co/1KGeC5omfH
— UrinatingTree (@UrinatingTree) July 28, 2025
Regardless of whether Clase is found to be guilty or innocent of any sports gambling activity, this revelation is devastating news to the Guardians as they look to climb back in the standings in the American League.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.