Marc Weinstein Discusses Cleveland Guardians Pitchers’ Upcoming Gambling Trial

Jan. 5, 2026 – Marc Weinstein spoke to Law360 about the upcoming trial of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz on charges that they illegally conspired to throw pitches that would secure gambling payouts.

The trial will be held in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York before Brooklyn U.S. District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto.

If they proceed to trial, according to Weinstein, their lawyers are likely to argue that the charges are government overreach and that they had no incentive to break the law.

“He was earning millions each year,” Weinstein said of Clase’s potential defense. “Why would he jeopardize all of that by doing something illegal for only a few thousand dollars?”

As for Ortiz, according to Weinstein, “The only person he allegedly spoke to about this was Clase, and Clase is not going to testify.”

Read the article.