Major League Baseball has placed Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz on unpaid non-disciplinary leave as they await trial for an alleged pitch-rigging scheme.

The duo previously remained on paid leave after pleading not guilty to multiple conspiracy charges.

Federal prosecutors accuse the pair of intentionally throwing balls to financially benefit gamblers wagering on individual pitches.

Joint agreement reached

The decision to suspend their pay follows a mutual agreement between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association.

“As the legal proceedings involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz continue to move forward, MLB and the MLBPA have agreed that both players will remain on non-disciplinary leave from the Club without pay until further notice,” MLB said in a statement.
“This agreement is not an admission of any wrongdoing by Clase or Ortiz.”
“MLB has been closely monitoring the matter since alerting federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and will have no further comment until its investigation has been completed.”

Severe potential consequences

North American baseball’s governing body typically avoids issuing formal suspensions while active legal proceedings remain unresolved.

However, the transition to unpaid status reflects the significant weight of evidence presented in the ongoing federal case.

The 28-year-old closer and his 27-year-old team-mate face serious charges including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and bribery to influence sporting events.

If convicted, the most severe charges carry a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Jury selection for their upcoming trial in the Eastern District of New York is scheduled to begin on 2 November.

Hundreds of pitches scrutinised

While the initial November indictment alleged rigged pitches across nine games, recent court filings suggest a much broader scope.

Defence attorneys noted in February that the government is now examining alleged performance manipulation spanning at least 48 games between the 2023 and 2025 seasons.

Legal representatives for the former All-Star closer have identified at least 250 specific pitches that attracted suspicious wagers.

In response to the unfolding scandal, the league has formally requested sportsbooks to impose strict limits on micro-betting markets.

MLB is actively seeking to cap individual pitch wagers at $200 (£158) and prohibit their inclusion in lucrative parlay bets to deter future corruption.

Canada manager Jesse Marsch has outlined his ambitions for the 2026 World Cup while reflecting on the devastating collapse of his potential appointment to the United States national team.

Speaking from his home in Italy, the 51-year-old detailed his firm belief that his current squad possesses the quality to win a challenging tournament group.

The North American co-hosts will face the tough challenge of playing Switzerland and Qatar, alongside the daunting possibility of an opening fixture against the reigning European champions Italy.

Star players crucial to tournament progression

The former RB Leipzig boss provided positive updates regarding the ongoing physical recovery of Bayern Munich full-back Alphonso Davies ahead of the global showpiece.

He also highlighted the impressive attacking form of Lille striker Jonathan David, who will be heavily relied upon to spearhead the forward line on home soil.

This upcoming tournament is widely viewed as a defining moment for the sport within the nation, with growing squad depth fuelling unprecedented expectations.

Premier League memories and Elland Road exit

Away from his current international duties, the experienced tactician reflected candidly on his turbulent tenure managing Leeds United in the Premier League.

He detailed the complex behind-the-scenes circumstances surrounding his departure from Elland Road and a subsequent move to Leicester City that ultimately failed to materialise.

Overcoming international heartbreak to target success

However, it was the breakdown of negotiations to take charge of his native country that left the most significant emotional mark on the manager.

The Wisconsin-born coach described the sudden failure to secure the prominent United States job as a devastating setback in his professional career.

Despite past club and international disappointments, he remains entirely focused on guiding his Canadian side to historic success before evaluating his long-term future in the dugout.

Manchester City academy graduate Nico O’Reilly is aiming to secure his first major trophy for his boyhood club when they face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley this weekend.

The versatile prospect has established himself as a crucial component of Pep Guardiola’s squad this season.

Despite the club spending heavily on new recruits, the homegrown talent from Collyhurst has consistently earned his place in the starting line-up.

He proudly displays his deep connection to his hometown with an ‘0161’ tattoo, representing the Manchester telephone dialling code.

It’s where I grew up, Manchester, the area. It’s me, really, how I became who I am today.

From academy prospect to first-team regular

The midfielder grew up idolising Kevin de Bruyne and has now found himself seamlessly slotting into roles previously occupied by the Belgian and Ilkay Gundogan.

His rapid rise has included sharing the pitch with global stars such as Erling Haaland and Rodri.

Guardiola has also utilised the youngster’s adaptability, notably deploying him as a makeshift left-back during a fixture against Salford last year.

The tactical switch proved highly successful, leading to increased minutes and ultimate trust from the demanding Catalan manager.

A family affair at Wembley

O’Reilly made his senior debut during the 2024 Community Shield victory over Manchester United beneath the iconic Wembley arch.

Returning to the national stadium to face the Gunners offers a chance to add a significant piece of silverware to his growing collection.

His family, predominantly supporters of the reigning Premier League champions, will be in attendance to watch his monumental afternoon.

My little sister comes to every game. She loves it, a big City fan, and she’s massively into football now.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has withdrawn from the Brazil squad for their upcoming international fixtures due to an undisclosed injury.

The national team confirmed the removal of the 32-year-old despite his initial call-up earlier this week.

It remains unclear how severe the issue is ahead of the Reds’ Premier League trip to Brighton this weekend.

Recent return to action

The Brazilian shot-stopper had recently missed his club’s Champions League first-leg defeat against Galatasaray.

He returned to action against Tottenham in the domestic league before retaining his place for the European return leg.

The South American completed the full 90 minutes as Arne Slot’s side cruised to a 4-0 victory at Anfield to overturn their aggregate deficit.

Growing fitness concerns

This latest setback adds to a mounting list of fitness issues for the Merseyside club as they navigate a congested fixture schedule.

Head coach Slot has already confirmed that talisman Mohamed Salah will miss the upcoming clash against the Seagulls.

However, versatile defender Joe Gomez is expected to be fit enough to make the matchday squad.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of Portugal’s squad for their upcoming pre-World Cup friendlies against Mexico and the United States due to a hamstring injury.

The 41-year-old forward has been sidelined since limping off during Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League victory against Al-Fayha at the end of February.

Roberto Martínez opted not to risk the men’s record international goalscorer for the upcoming fixtures in Mexico City and Atlanta.

World Cup place not in jeopardy

Despite travelling to Spain for specialised rehabilitation, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is expected to make a swift recovery.

Portugal’s head coach moved quickly to dismiss any fears regarding his captain’s availability for the upcoming tournament in June.

“He’s not at risk, no. It’s a minor muscle injury and we think he can return in a week or two.”

The veteran attacker had been in prolific form for his club, netting 21 times in 22 league appearances before suffering this minor setback.

Squad changes and notable absentees

While the former Real Madrid star misses out, his Al-Nassr teammate João Félix has been included in the travelling party.

Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva is another high-profile absence from the extended squad list announced on Friday.

Portugal will face Mexico on 28 March before travelling to play the United States on 1 April as their tournament preparations intensify.

Portugal squad in full

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario will undergo hernia surgery on Monday, dealing a significant blow to the club’s Premier League survival hopes.

The 29-year-old was forced to withdraw from the latest Italy squad after struggling with the issue following Wednesday’s Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid.

Reports from Sky Sports confirm that the stopper requires an immediate operation and will likely rest for several weeks, potentially ending his season prematurely.

His extended absence arrives at the worst possible moment for interim manager Igor Tudor.

European highs and domestic lows

Spurs recently ended a dismal run of four consecutive defeats with a vital top-flight draw against Liverpool at Anfield.

That positive momentum carried over into Europe, where the North London side secured a thrilling 3-2 second-leg victory to eliminate their Spanish opposition.

However, attention must now abruptly return to their desperate fight against domestic relegation.

The team faces a crucial basement battle against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, a fixture they must navigate without their reliable first-choice shot-stopper.

International heartbreak for the Italian

The impending procedure also shatters the player’s hopes of representing his country in an upcoming World Cup playoff campaign.

Gennaro Gattuso’s national side face Northern Ireland in a high-stakes semi-final tie over the next fortnight.

If successful, the Azzurri must then overcome either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina to secure their place at the 2026 tournament in North America.

Goalkeeping crisis looming

This medical setback creates a severe selection headache for the Tottenham coaching staff following recent tactical controversies.

Tudor boldly dropped his regular number one for Antonin Kinsky during the first leg of their European knockout tie in Madrid.

That decision backfired spectacularly when the Czech reserve was directly at fault for two goals while falling 3-0 behind in a disastrous opening 15 minutes.

The deputy was ruthlessly substituted shortly after, raising serious doubts about his readiness to step into a high-pressure Premier League six-pointer.

Pep Guardiola faces a major selection dilemma over out-of-form striker Erling Haaland as Manchester City prepare to play Arsenal in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

The Norwegian international has seen his goalscoring numbers plummet since the turn of the year.

He netted an impressive 25 times between August and December, but has managed just five goals so far in 2026.

This dramatic decline raises serious questions over his guaranteed starting spot against the Gunners.

Guardiola’s tactical evolution

Manchester City are desperately seeking their first major silverware in two years this weekend.

Their manager has constantly tinkered with his tactical setup this season to unlock attacking creativity.

Recent experiments have included pairing the former Borussia Dortmund frontman with Antoine Semenyo or Omar Marmoush in a two-man attack.

The Catalan coach is reacting to a broader Premier League trend towards aggressive man-to-man marking.

Adapting to a shifting landscape

Teams across the division are increasingly relying on direct transitions and set-piece dominance.

We are moving in that direction.

Those were the recent thoughts of the City boss when asked about the shifting tactical landscape.

However, the Manchester side have scored a league-low 16.6 percent of their goals from dead-ball situations.

This need for verticality prompted the recruitment of rapid defenders like Abdukodir Khusanov to win individual duels.

Finding the perfect formula

Playing direct football previously benefited the prolific Scandinavian striker by cutting out patient build-up play.

Yet Guardiola’s men have frequently struggled to balance defensive stability with genuine attacking threat this term.

The team looks distinctly different from the dominant sides previously orchestrated by David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne.

Whether that means benching a generational goalscorer at Wembley remains the biggest question of the weekend.

Tyson Fury has reiterated his desire to fight domestic rival Anthony Joshua before retiring, insisting the long-awaited showdown must happen following his upcoming bout against Arslanbek Makhmudov.

The undefeated heavyweight champion remains determined to settle the score with his fellow Briton before calling time on an illustrious career.

Speculation surrounding a potential blockbuster clash between the two fighters has dominated the sport for the better part of a decade.

The 36-year-old issued a direct challenge to the former unified champion regarding a future meeting.

Let’s get it done! – Tyson Fury

Focus remains on Makhmudov

However, the self-styled Gypsy King must first navigate a challenging test against formidable Russian-Canadian contender Makhmudov.

He knows that any unexpected slip-up in his next outing could permanently derail the prospect of an all-British super-fight.

Joshua, meanwhile, continues his own rebuilding phase as he looks to re-establish himself at the pinnacle of the heavyweight division.

A legacy-defining domestic clash

Boxing fans have grown increasingly frustrated over the years by previous failed negotiations between the two rival camps.

Despite those past contractual setbacks, the Mancunian’s latest comments will reignite hopes that a historic stadium spectacle can finally be agreed.

A successful victory over Makhmudov would ultimately clear the path for what promises to be one of the most lucrative events in British sporting history.