Congress presses MLB for details on pitch-fixing allegations, integrity measures

Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation have asked Major League Baseball to provide detailed information on how it oversees wagering activity, following federal indictments involving two Cleveland Guardians pitchers.

The committee, which oversees professional sports, sent a letter to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on Friday seeking documents and an explanation of the league’s monitoring processes.

The request follows indictments unsealed less than a week earlier, charging Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz with rigging individual pitches so associates could profit on bets. Lawmakers said the allegations are “markedly more serious” than previous betting cases in baseball and questioned why the conduct dating back to May 2023 was not detected sooner.

The senators referenced former major leaguer Tucupita Marcano, who received a lifetime ban in 2024 for wagering on baseball games, including bets placed while on an active roster. They wrote: “How did MLB catch Marcano and ban him for life but failed to notice Clase allegedly rigging pitches for two years?”

Committee leaders Sens. Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell asked MLB to disclose when it first learned of the alleged conduct and to turn over documentation of its wagering and information-control policies. They also asked for a list of all betting-related investigations opened since January 1, 2020. The requested materials are due December 5.

MLB said last week that its sportsbook partners agreed to limit all individual-pitch wagers to $200 and prohibit those bets from being placed in parlays. The league said the measures are intended to reduce potential winnings from pitch-level bets.

The committee’s inquiry mirrors a similar request sent to the NBA in October following indictments involving Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, former player and coach Damon Jones, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. Lawmakers said the recent cases indicate a risk that extends across professional sports.

They wrote: “An isolated incident of game rigging might be dismissed as an aberration, but the emergence of manipulation across multiple leagues suggests a deeper, systemic vulnerability. These developments warrant thorough scrutiny by Congress before misconduct issues become more widespread.”

Congressional interest comes as regulated sports wagering continues to expand in the US, raising questions about internal controls, oversight of insider information, and the responsibilities of leagues to detect irregular betting activity.

ESPN reported that the committee asked for documentation on all policies governing bets, reporting requirements, and information sharing with sportsbooks as federal authorities investigate the alleged scheme involving Guardians players.