Cleveland pitcher Ortiz put on paid leave during MLB probe

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis L. Ortiz was put on non-disciplinary paid leave through July 17 because of a Major League Baseball investigation, the league announced on Thursday.

The 26-year-old Dominican right-hander had been scheduled to start for the Guardians on Thursday at Wrigley Field in Cleveland's final game of a series at the Chicago Cubs.

ESPN and The Athletic reported the investigation is regarding potential gambling-related rule violations, citing unnamed sources, but MLB and the club did not identify the subject of the probe in statements.

"Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through the end of the All-Star break due to an MLB investigation," the MLB statement said. 

"We will not comment further until the investigation has been completed."

More from this section

Ready for it? Swifties swarm German museum to see Ophelia painting

Fergie, her daughters and the corgis hit by Andrew crisis

Families separated, children killed as survivors flee Sudan's 'apocalyptic' El-Fasher

The leave was set to conclude on the final day of the mid-season break for the upcoming MLB All-Star Game.

The Guardians said they had been notified of Ortiz being placed on leave and the investigation but were not allowed to comment further during the "confidential investigative process".

Ortiz was obtained in a trade with Pittsburgh last December after playing three seasons for the Pirates.

In 16 starts this season, Ortiz had a 4.36 earned-run average with 96 strikeouts and 42 walks issued over 88 2/3 innings pitched.

js/nf