CLEVELAND, Ohio — A dark cloud has descended over the Cleveland Guardians’ season as two of their most prominent pitchers, closer Emmanuel Clase and starter Luis Ortiz, find themselves at the center of MLB’s gambling investigation – a situation that threatens to permanently alter their careers and impact the team’s championship aspirations.

After winning 11 of 13 games to climb back into the playoff picture, the Guardians season took a huge hit with the loss of Emmanuel Clase to a Major League Baseball investigation into gambling, the second Cleveland pitcher to be placed on leave after Luis Ortiz.