3x All-Star Emmanuel Clase Getting Placed on Paid Leave Amid Sports Betting Investigation Sparks WILD Reactions on Social Media

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave by the MLB under investigation regarding sports betting.

3x All-Star Emmanuel Clase Getting Placed on Paid Leave Amid Sports Betting Investigation Sparks WILD Reactions on Social Media

Emmanuel Clase (Image via X/@TalkinBaseball_)

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The Cleveland Guardians have lost another pitcher on paid leave. A few days after relief pitcher Luis Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave during an investigation into sports betting, the team has now lost Emmanuel Clase in this as well.

A few days back, Ortiz was placed on leave after two suspicious pitches during games against the Seattle Mariners and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is expected to stay on leave until August 31.

Clase now joins him. The 3-time MLB All-Star, who has been one of the top relief pitchers in the game, will now be on paid leaves through games till August 31 while the MLB continues it’s investigation into the matter.

While reacting to this incident, the Guardians in a statement expressed that no other players or personnel are expected to be impacted from this.

The Guardians have been notified by Major League Baseball that as part of their sports betting investigation Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave per an agreement with the Players Association. We have been informed that no additional players or Club personnel are expected to be impacted

Cleveland Guardians said in a statement

Before this incident, Clase made 48 appearances for the team this season and had a 5-3 record. His 24 saves is the 3rd most in the American League. He led the AL in saves in each of the last three seasons. This year he has pitched with an ERA of 3.23 with 47 strikeouts in 47.1 innings.

Social media reacts to Emmanuel Clase being placed on paid leave due to sports betting scandal

Emmanuel Clase’s name came up in the spotlight on Monday as the MLB placed him on paid leave. The player became the 2nd Cleveland Guardians pitcher this season to be hit with this by the league.

Emmanuel Clase
Emmanuel Clase (Image via X/@FOS)

Social media users would go wild once this news broke out. While some trolled him, some took a swipe at him. A few of them brought up clips of some of his wild pitches and bashed him.

Check out some fan reactions from X regarding this incident below:

Before this incident, Clase’s name came up in some trade rumors. Ahead of the trade deadline this week, he was expected to be one of the names that would depart from the Guardians clubhouse. This development has now been halted.

Guardians not going to name any closer following Emmanuel Clase’s incident

The Cleveland Guardians have lost one of the top pitchers in the form of Emmanuel Clase. With the 27-year-old now on non-disciplinary paid leave, the American League Central team are left without a closer. They have though, decided not to name a closer.

Emmanuel Clase
Emmanuel Clase (Image via Spectrum News)

On Monday night, the Guardians found themselves in a save situation against the Colorado Rockies. In the absence of Clase, the team turned their attention towards Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith, and Tim Herrin.

The trio ended up giving 5 runs across 2 innings, with Smith blowing the case in the ninth inning. The struggling Rockies ended up winning the game 8-6 and handed the Guardians another defeat.

On Monday afternoon, manager Stephen Vogt opted against naming a particular closer for the team. The 2024 American League Manager of the Year expressed that the team will look for alternative options instead of giving that closer role to one specific player.

We’re not going to name a closer. We’re going to go [closer] by committee for right now. …You’ll see different people in the ninth. It could organically end up being one person. But for now, we’re not going to officially name a closer.

Stephen Vogt told the reporters

With the loss, the Guardians are left with a 52-54 record. The back-to-back wins of the Detroit Tigers following a poor run of form have once again extended the lead at the top of the AL Central Standings to 9 games.

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