MLB Places Multiple Pitchers on Paid Leave over Suspicious Betting

Major League Baseball is investigating suspicious betting activity involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase, who were placed on nondisciplinary paid leave amid the probe. The investigation centers on unusual bets placed on in-game propositions, specifically wagers on whether the first pitch of an inning would be a ball, flagged by the gambling integrity monitor IC360. Ortiz’s questionable first-pitch sliders in games against the Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals have drawn scrutiny as part of this inquiry. Meanwhile, non-league football betting is gaining popularity due to its unpredictable and chaotic nature, where local knowledge and context can provide bettors with an edge that pure statistics cannot. This grassroots level of the sport offers a distinct betting experience characterized by small crowds, close community ties, and frequent surprises that defy conventional expectations. These developments highlight the evolving landscape of sports betting, from major league scrutiny to the growing appeal of betting on lower-tier sports with unique dynamics.