Baseball's drama is once again in the spotlight as the Cleveland Guardians face a potential scandal involving pitcher Luis Ortiz, who has been placed on leave amid a gambling investigation that suggests he might have intentionally thrown pitches. Meanwhile, Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly have raised allegations against the Cincinnati Reds, claiming their home pitching mound is illegal, thus providing an unfair advantage.

Kelly pointed out the mound's unusual height and how it contrasts sharply with what players encounter in other stadiums. Gallen's statistics from a recent outing against the Reds support his argument, as he recorded his lowest pitch release and extension marks, suggesting the mound might be less steep and affecting his performance. The debate over mound regulations could impact the Reds' roster decisions moving forward, as they may favor pitchers who perform well on their altered mound.

The Seattle Mariners are currently embroiled in a significant gambling investigation by Major League Baseball, sparked by incidents involving Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz. On June 15, during a game against the Mariners, Ortiz's first pitch in the bottom of the second inning was flagged for its notable betting activity, which saw wagers placed on whether it would be a ball or hit batsman. The pitch was a slider that missed the strike zone markedly, leading to alerts from a betting-integrity firm.

This type of betting, known as microbetting, is increasingly popular, especially in states like Ohio, New York, and New Jersey, where betting on specific outcomes such as first pitches is permitted. Further scrutiny has been placed on Ortiz following another similar incident on June 27 against the St. Louis Cardinals. As a precautionary measure during the investigation, Ortiz has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through the All-Star Break.

Luis Ortiz, the Cleveland Guardians' starting pitcher, has been placed on paid leave due to an ongoing MLB investigation into alleged gambling activities. The investigation was triggered by unusual betting patterns associated with two of Ortiz's pitches during games in June, prompting MLB's betting-integrity firm to take notice. Consequently, Ortiz's scheduled start against the Cubs will be taken over by Joey Cantillo. Ortiz's season so far has seen him with a record of 4-9 and a 4.36 ERA over 88 ⅔ innings. This situation echoes previous gambling-related incidents within the league, highlighting the serious implications of betting infractions.

The Guardians, who are currently 40-44 and 14 games behind the AL Central leaders, are four games out of a wild-card spot. As Ortiz faces scrutiny, the team's pitching depth will be tested, especially as they remain in contention for a playoff spot amidst this disruption.

The Cleveland Guardians have placed pitcher Luis Ortiz on paid leave amid a gambling investigation by Major League Baseball (MLB). Ortiz, who was set to start against the Chicago Cubs, will be absent through July 18 as the league looks into allegations involving gambling activities. The Guardians issued a statement confirming they are complying with the investigation and cannot provide further comment. This incident follows previous cases where players faced severe penalties for gambling, highlighting the growing concerns around betting practices in professional sports.

Recent developments in the sports world have highlighted ongoing concerns about gambling integrity, with two notable players under scrutiny. Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley is currently facing federal investigation related to gambling activities.

Meanwhile, Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz finds himself under investigation by Major League Baseball (MLB) for potential violations of gambling policies. Ortiz, who had been slated to start an upcoming game against the Chicago Cubs, has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave pending further investigation. This situation follows a concerning trend in both the NBA and MLB, as gambling scandals have emerged more frequently in recent years, while the NFL has largely avoided similar issues.