A federal judge denied bids by Clase, Ortiz & a third defendant to dismiss the fraud count.
The hit
A US federal court filing alleges former Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase agreed to throw balls & slow sliders, often on first pitches, so bettors could cash in on non-public information. The superseding indictment names fellow former Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz & a third defendant as co-conspirators, according to court documents filed in the Eastern District of New York.
Why it matters
If proven, the scheme shows inside pitch-calling being used to beat three sportsbooks’ own terms of use, which bar wagering on non-public information. Judge Kiyo Matsumoto’s refusal to dismiss the wire fraud count keeps that count alive, & prosecutors say the ruling is relevant to a separate motion by Terry Rozier to dismiss all four counts against him in a case before Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall.
The record
| Original charges filed | Clase & Ortiz charged 5 November 2025 (Eastern District of New York) |
|---|---|
| Superseding indictment | Added a third defendant & a sealed Defendant-4 on 12 February 2026 |
| Alleged start of scheme | Clase allegedly began rigging pitches around May 2023 |
| Ortiz joined | Allegedly joined the conspiracy around June 2025 |
| Motions to dismiss denied | Judge Kiyo Matsumoto denied all three motions on 8 September 2026 |
What happens next
Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall is weighing Rozier’s motions to dismiss all four counts against him, including bribery & money laundering, in a case tied to alleged NBA game-fixing.
Sources: United States v. Earnest (court filing)
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