Ohio considering banning first-pitch bets amid Guardians gambling investigation
The state of Ohio is looking at banning 'microbets,' which would include wagers on MLB's first pitches, according to ESPN.
Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) executive director Matt Schuler told the outlet that his department, at Gov. Mike DeWine's request, is looking into microbets before potentially removing some player props as legal wagers.
Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz throws a pitch during a road game against the Yankees earlier this season.
Bill Kostroun/New York Post
The news comes after Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase were placed on leave by MLB due to a league gambling investigation.
Ortiz is being investigated after a pair of his pitches received unusual gambling activity.
Both pitches received heavy action on the first pitch of the inning to be a ball or hit batsman before Ortiz proceeded to throw the ball well out of the strike zone.
Clase's connection to the investigation is unclear.
The Guardians cleared out the lockers of both pitchers late last month.
The team stated last week that 'no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted' by the investigation.
In July, DeWine called on the state gambling commission to ban some types of player-specific prop bets.
'The harm to athletes and the integrity of the game is clear, and the benefits are not worth the harm,' DeWine said. 'The prop betting experiment in this country has failed badly.'
Closer Emmanuel Clase reacts after the host Guardians defeated the Orioles on July 22, 2025.
AP
DeWine also asked commissioners and players unions from the major American sports leagues to support the ban.
During the MLB All-Star break, commissioner Rob Manfred seemed open to getting rid of microbets.
'Certain types of bets strike me as unnecessary and particularly vulnerable, things where it's one single act, doesn't affect the outcome necessarily,' Manfred said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
A's Drop Finale To Rays 8-2
Not a great way to end the series. The A's dropped their finale against Tampa Bay, getting hit in the teeth by the Rays in a 8-2 contest to wrap up the series with the Rays, who split the season-series with three wins and three losses apiece. Rays ambush Ginn On the mound for the Athletics this evening was rookie right-hander JT Ginn, who was making just his ninth start of the season (and 15th of his young career). Tonight was not his night. Tampa jumped all over Ginn right from the get-go, scoring four times in the first inning to jump out to an intimidating early lead. A pair of errors didn't help Ginn by any means but the Rays added on two more runs in the very next inning when second baseman Brandon Lowe hit a 2-run homer run. That extended the Tampa lead to 6-0 and the A's had only hit once. While he'd finish the frame, Ginn was done after just two innings, condemning the bullpen to a long night. JT Ginn: 2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 70 pitches Not a great outing from the rookie righty. He was just not feeling himself this evening, and who could blame him? The rookie is pitching in a minor league stadium that acts as a bandbox and it was an extremely warm night where the ball was just flying off the bats, at least for the road team. Ginn just didn't show up ready for tonight's game, but hopefully he'll right the ship next time out. He's currently lined up to face the Twins exactly one week from tonight, though we'll see if he ends up making that start or if the club decides to turn to another arm. A's stunted by Rasmussen On the other side of things, Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen, a Cy Young contender this year, was in absolute control of the game for his squad from the jump. Gifted a massive early lead, he sat down the first six batters he faced tonight before making a mistake to Lawrence Butler, who led off the bottom of the third going the other way for his 16th homer of the season: He's now just 4 homers away from joining Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, Brent Rooker, and Tyler Soderstrom as 20-homer hitters on the current club. That'd be the first time since 2019 when the club had six hitters cross that threshold. Nice little offensive core to build around right there, wouldn't you say? That solo blast didn't open the flood gates like A's fans hoped. The club added on another run in the fifth off a Gio Urshela RBI single… … but that would be all the scoring the Athletics could muster tonight. After the Urshela single the A's only collected one more hit the entire night, a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth off the bat of Tyler Soderstrom. He of course was stranded and the game ended with a strikeout of rookie outfielder Colby Thomas, the team's 13th punchout of the evening. Bullpen gives a chance for a comeback After Ginn's short start the A's needed to piece together seven more innings. Starter-turned-reliever Hogan Harris took over after Ginn and looked strong, tossing three innings while allowing just one run. Could he get a start or two here down the final stretch of the season? After Harris came scoreless appearances from Ben Bowden (1 IP), Michael Kelly (1 IP), Sean Newcomb (1 IP), and then rookie Elvis Alvarado allowed a pair of runs in the ninth to really put a stink on the final score for the A's. When all was said and done the A's had secured the series defeat and their 69th loss of the season. Not a good game all around. Butler had a nice swing on a pitch from an ace-level pitcher. And the veteran Urshela still has something left in the tank. But Ginn was hit early and hit hard and didn't inspire much confidence going into his supposed next start. At least the bullpen held together for the most part! We get an off-day tomorrow before picking up the homestand with three weekend games hosting the Los Angeles Angels for the final time in Sacramento this year. For Los Angeles, they'll go with lefty veteran Yusei Kikuchi for the series opener. He's posted a terrific 3.37 ERA across 25 starts this year, both of which lead the Halos' pitching staff. The A's meanwhile have yet to announce their starter so we'll keep you and the rest of our readers apprised on when we find out who will be taking the ball on Friday night.
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ohtani pitches into 5th inning and triples, but O'Hoppe spurs Angels past Dodgers 6-5 for sweep
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani yielded four runs on five hits while pitching a season-high 4 1/3 innings, but Logan O'Hoppe delivered a two-run single in the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Angels swept the season Freeway Series with a 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night. Ohtani fanned Mike Trout twice among his seven strikeouts. He also tripled and scored in the first inning, but struck out in his final three at-bats. Will Smith hit a two-run homer and Mookie Betts had two RBI singles for the defending World Series champion Dodgers, who have lost four straight. They've fallen into second place in the NL West behind the San Diego Padres, who arrive at Dodger Stadium on Friday for a weekend series. The sub-.500 Angels improbably swept both three-game series against the Dodgers this season. They've won a franchise-record seven straight over their crosstown rivals. Ohtani mostly looked sharp in his first trip to the Angel Stadium mound since he left it with what turned out to be a torn elbow ligament in August 2023. He gave up a homer to Taylor Ward in the second, but settled in until the fifth. Ohtani left with a 5-4 lead, and the Dodgers' beleaguered bullpen nearly made it stand up despite having five high-leverage arms on the injured list. One inning earlier, Angels rookie Bryce Teodosio robbed Andy Pages of a homer with a leaping catch in right-center. Brock Burke (6-1) pitched the eighth, and Kenley Jansen got his 23rd save. Key moment After the Angels loaded the bases in the eighth against Justin Wrobleski (4-4) and Edgardo Henriquez, O'Hoppe put the Angels ahead with his clutch single. Key stat Ohtani has 15 strikeouts over his last 8 1/3 innings. Up next Clayton Kershaw (6-2, 3.14 ERA) seems likely to take the mound Friday against San Diego. Yusei Kikuchi (6-7, 3.37) will start Friday in West Sacramento for the Angels. ___ AP MLB:
Washington Post
18 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Yankees 1B Paul Goldschmidt has a right knee sprain and may go on IL
NEW YORK — Paul Goldschmidt has a low-grade right knee sprain and the New York Yankees may place the veteran first baseman on the injured list ahead of his return to St. Louis this weekend. The Yankees will evaluate Goldschmidt during their day off and will decide before Friday's game against the Cardinals if he will be placed on the IL.
