The Emmanuel Clase case has taken yet another twist.
Clase is being accused of throwing a rigged pitch during a 2024 MLB playoff game, Mike Vorkunov and Zack Meisel of The Athletic reported on Friday. The allegation, which was uncovered this week as part of an unsealed 29-page federal indictment, claims that Clase fired the rigged pitch during Game 1 of the 2024 ALDS against the Detroit Tigers.
The Cleveland Guardians pitcher Clase came in during the ninth inning of that game with a 7-0 lead over the Tigers and fired a perfect 1-2-3 frame to close out the contest. Video later emerged on social media of the pitch from the game that Clase allegedly rigged (which was his very first one of the contest).
Here’s a rigged pitch Emmanuel Clase is accused of throwing in the 2024 Postseason: Game 1 of the ALDS vs the Detroit Tigers. He was accused of “rigging” at-least twice in the 2024 Postseason. pic.twitter.com/GdRcWYJ9o0
— Christian Pagan (@paganpxp) February 13, 2026
Vorkunov and Meisel notes that Clase is also alleged to have used coded language (including words like “chicken” and “rooster”) to discuss an illegal gambling scheme in texts with bettors. Additionally, Clase is claimed to have received kickbacks as co-conspirators netted at least $450,000 as a result of betting on his player props.
You can read The Athletic’s full report on the situation here.
The 27-year-old Clase, a three-time All-Star and three-time AL saves leader, is currently on non-paid disciplinary leave from Major League Baseball in the wake of the federal indictment against him. We also learned last week that Clase is now alleged to have thrown rigged pitches in several dozen games from 2023-25, which was far more than federal prosecutors had originally revealed.
Clase, along with Guardians teammate Luis Ortiz, has been hit with multiple federal charges related to fraud, conspiracy, and bribery. The two players are each now facing some very lengthy prison sentences as a result.
