CLEVELAND, Ohio — A dark cloud has descended over the Cleveland Guardians’ season as two of their most prominent pitchers, closer Emmanuel Clase and starter Luis Ortiz, find themselves at the center of MLB’s gambling investigation – a situation that threatens to permanently alter their careers and impact the team’s championship aspirations.

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase was reportedly placed on on non-disciplinary paid leave because of MLB's sports-gambling investigation.

The investigation is related to in-game prop bets on two pitches thrown by Ortiz that received higher activity than usual during two starts last month.