Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz fight pitch-rigging case as spring training starts

NEW YORK (AP) — A scheduled spring fraud trial for two Cleveland Guardians pitchers accused of colluding with sports bettors to rig bets and betray “America's pastime” will likely be postponed until October, a federal judge said Wednesday as the men pleaded not guilty to a rewritten indictment.

Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto left a May 4 trial date on the books for now, but indicated she'll probably move it to the fall in the coming weeks.

Pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, speaking Spanish, entered not guilty pleas through a translator to a rewritten indictment in Brooklyn federal court.

No new charges were in the superseding indictment unsealed on Friday, as prosecutors charged a third individual with serving as a middleman between bettors and Clase. That person also pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

The pitchers were first charged in November with accepting several thousand dollars in payoffs to help two gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 by placing more than 100 in-game prop bets and parlays on the speed and the outcome of certain pitches. Charges include wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests.

The rewritten indictment released Friday added allegations that Clase used code words like “rooster” and “chicken” in communications about pitches to be thrown.

Prior to a May 18, 2025, game against the Cincinnati Reds, Clase received a message to “throw a rock at the first rooster in today's fight” and responded with: “Yes, of course, that's an easy toss to that rooster,” the indictment said. However, Clase never entered the game and could not fulfill the plan to throw outside the strike zone to the first batter he faced, it added.

A day earlier, though, Clase broke Major League Baseball rules by using his cellphone in the middle of a game against the Reds to signal to gamblers that a pitch would be outside the strike zone, enabling them to win about $27,000, the indictment said.

Clase, the Guardians’ former closer, and Ortiz, a starter, have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July. Their teammates are just starting training camp for the new season. The team’s home opener is April 3.

Clase and Ortiz, who are free on bail, left the courthouse separately after Wednesday's hearing. Neither commented. Lawyers for both men have insisted their clients never colluded with gamblers.

Lawyers for Ortiz have asked that he be tried separately, saying in court papers that if Clase passed along Ortiz's pitching strategy to gamblers, he did so without Ortiz's knowledge. They also noted that Ortiz is accused of throwing only two pitches that drew scrutiny over a 12-day span, while Clase is charged with colluding with gamblers on numerous pitches since 2023.

“Mr. Clase may have abused his relationship with Mr. Ortiz as friends and teammates by convincing Mr. Ortiz to throw certain pitches at certain times — ostensibly for baseball reasons as far as Mr. Ortiz was aware,” the lawyers wrote.

They said they might present a defense to the jury that would cast “Ortiz as a victim of Mr. Clase’s scheme, rather than a knowing and willing participant.”

Clase, a three-time All-Star, had a $4.5 million salary in 2025, the fourth season of a $20 million, five-year contract. Prosecutors say he started providing bettors with information about his pitches in 2023 but didn't seek payoffs until last year.

Prosecutors have said that Ortiz, who had a $782,600 salary last season, joined the scheme last June.

The Guardians and Major League Baseball have said they are cooperating with the investigation. MLB said it contacted federal law enforcement when it began investigating unusual betting activity.

Cleveland Guardians' Emmanuel Clase arrives at Brooklyn federal court, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Cleveland Guardians' Luis Ortiz leaves Brooklyn federal court, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Cleveland Guardians' Emmanuel Clase arrives at Brooklyn federal court, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Cleveland Guardians' Luis Ortiz leaves Brooklyn federal court, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Cleveland Guardians' Emmanuel Clase arrives at Brooklyn federal court, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sahibzada Farhan hit his first century in the format and Usman Tariq confused Namibia with mystery spin as Pakistan secured a Super 8 spot at cricket's Twenty20 World Cup with a 102-run win on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, defending champions India beat the Netherlands by 17 runs to finish unbeaten in Group A, while South Africa chased down a victory target of 123 with 40 balls to spare against the United Arab Emirates to remain undefeated in Group D.

In Colombo, Pakistan opening batter Farhan made 100 not out off 58 balls with four sixes and 11 boundaries. Captain Salman Ali Agha hit 38 while Farhan and Shadab Khan (36 not out) carried Pakistan to 199-3 against Namibia in Group A.

Tariq, who has a distinctive pause-and-bowl action, then took 4-16 and Khan took 3-19 as Namibia was dismissed for 97 in 17.3 overs, its fourth straight loss in the group.

Pakistan needed a win at Sinhalese Sports Club to end any hope for the United States and Farhan’s blazing century provided the 2009 champions with a strong total.

Farhan's second 50 came off just 20 balls. Khan provided a late flurry, smashing three sixes.

Namibia opener Louren Steenkamp top-scored in the chase with a 22-ball 23 and Alexander Busing-Volschenk (20) was the other batter to reach double figures as Pakistan's spinners struck at regular intervals.

Tariq bowled a double-wicket maiden over and baffled the middle order with his sharp googlies and carrom balls as Namibia lost six wickets for just 18 runs after collapsing from 79-4.

In Ahmedabad, India, Shivam Dube hit 66 off 31 balls to help India recover from 69-3 to reach 193-6 before the Netherlands replied with 176-7. India, which had already qualified for the Super 8s, stretched its winning record to 12 games in T20 World Cups since 2024.

Abhishek Sharma fell for a third straight duck in the competition, bowled by Aryan Dutt in the first over.

Dube hit six sixes, using the slower pace of the Dutch bowlers to his advantage, and raced to 50 off 25 balls.

Hardik Pandya scored 30 off 21 deliveries as the pair added 76 off 35 balls.

The Netherlands was never likely to reach its target. Bas de Leede made 33 and opener Michael Levitt hit 24.

Mystery leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy picked up 3-14 in three overs while Dube starred with the ball as well, taking 2-35 in three overs.

In New Delhi, South Africa restricted the UAE to 122-6 with Corbin Bosch returning 3-12 from four overs and fellow paceman Anrich Nortje claiming 2-28.

The South Africans raced to 123-4 in 13.2 overs, taking the last seven runs in singles after their fourth wicket fell.

Rain showers delayed the start of South Africa’s reply and the first over netted just one run.

But the Proteas powered toward victory by adding 13 runs off the second over and 18 from the third until Haider Ali bowled skipper Aiden Markram for 28 from 11 balls.

Dewald Brevis made 36 before he was out within two scoring shots of victory, and Ryan Rickelton hit 30 as the 2024 runner-up dominated the bowling.

For the UAE, Alishan Sharafu compiled 45 from 38 deliveries before he was caught in the outfield off Nortje’s bowling in the 18th over.

It was South Africa’s fourth consecutive win in the tournament, including a double-tiebreaker victory over 2024 semifinalist Afghanistan that required two Super Overs.

The Proteas finished top of the group which also saw New Zealand qualify, and will take on India, West Indies and Zimbabwe in Group 1 of the Super 8s.

New Zealand, England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are in Group 2.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zardan plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

India's Shivam Dube plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between India and Netherlands in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

Pakistan's Usman Tariq, right , celebrates with captain Salman Ali Agha, centre, the wicket of Namibia's Ruben Trumpelmann during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Namibia and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Namibia and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan celebrates his century during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Namibia and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

United Arab Emirates' Haider Ali, centre, celebrates the wicket of during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

South Africa's Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton celebrate during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

United Arab Emirates' Muhammad Arfan reacts after bowls a delivery during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

South Africa's Dewald Brevis hits a six during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

South Africa's Ryan Rickelton and South Africa's Dewald Brevis celebrate during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

South Africa's David Miller, left, and United Arab Emirates' captain Muhammad Waseem walk into the field before the start of their T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

South Africa team sing their national anthem at the start of the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)