Luis Ortiz, the Cleveland Guardians' starting pitcher, has been placed on paid leave due to an ongoing investigation by Major League Baseball. Ortiz, who was set to start against the Chicago Cubs, has a record of 4-9 with a 4.36 ERA and 96 strikeouts this season. In his absence, Joey Cantillo will take the mound for the Guardians. The team acknowledged the leave in a statement, emphasizing their respect for the confidentiality of the investigation.

The Guardians enter the game with a 40-44 record, trailing by 14 games in the AL Central but only four games out of the third wild card spot. This situation raises questions about their rotation depth and potential moves as they seek to remain competitive in the playoff race.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Luis Ortiz is currently on paid leave as he faces an investigation by Major League Baseball. The announcement comes shortly before Ortiz was set to start against the Chicago Cubs. The Guardians are dealing with a tough stretch, having lost six straight games and sitting at 40-44, 12.5 games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers in the American League Central. Ortiz, who has a 4-9 record with a 4.36 ERA, was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a trade involving star second baseman Andres Gimenez. The team's rotation has struggled overall, ranking 18th in MLB with a 4.13 ERA.

The Cleveland Guardians have put pitcher Luis Ortiz on paid leave due to an MLB investigation, which the team is unable to comment on further. The timing coincides with Ortiz's scheduled start against the Chicago Cubs, a significant setback for the Guardians. In Ortiz's absence, Joey Cantillo will take the mound. Ortiz's performance this season includes a 4-9 record and a 4.36 ERA, following a promising 2024 with the Pittsburgh Pirates where he posted a 3.32 ERA over 37 games.

The Chicago Cubs look to complete a series sweep against the Cleveland Guardians following a 5-4 victory. Seiya Suzuki shone bright with three RBIs in the last game, contributing to the Cubs’ momentum as they aim for their sixth win in eight games. Meanwhile, the Guardians are in dire straits, having lost six consecutive games and three series in a row, which raises questions about their current form. The matchup features Luis L. Ortiz for Cleveland, who has struggled with a 4.37 ERA, facing Cade Horton, whose recent outings have been shaky. Expectations are low for Cleveland, prompting a closer look at betting trends, including the moneyline odds favoring the Cubs and a total set at 8 runs.

On July 3, 2025, a strong lineup of MLB player prop bets is highlighted, focusing particularly on home run props. Riley Greene of the Detroit Tigers is noted for his impressive performance against right-handed pitchers, recently smashing four home runs in three games. The analysis suggests that Greene's matchup against Jake Irvin, who has struggled to prevent home runs, presents an excellent opportunity for bettors.

Jo Adell from the Los Angeles Angels is another standout pick, with favorable odds against Bryce Elder, a pitcher notorious for giving up home runs. Adell has been on a power surge, and his metrics against sliders suggest he could capitalize on Elder's weaknesses. Rafael Devers also gets a mention, facing Brandon Pfaadt, as he tries to regain his power stroke since joining the San Francisco Giants. The advice is to take advantage of Devers’ historically high home run rate against left-handed pitching.

Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers is highlighted for his current form, having hit home runs in two of his last three games. The favorable matchup against Aaron Civale, combined with Smith's past success against him, makes this a smart bet. Lastly, Lane Thomas of the Cleveland Guardians is recommended as a longshot, given his recent uptick in power and favorable conditions against a rookie pitcher.