Judge keeps Guardians pitchers together for November trial in betting scandal

A federal judge in Brooklyn rejected motions from Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz to hold separate trials in their pitch-rigging case, scheduling the joint proceeding for Nov. 2. The pitchers face charges including wire fraud and bribery conspiracy, with prosecutors alleging they rigged pitches for gamblers and used coded language like "rooster" and "chickens." The judge did separate Clase from a co-defendant on one specific charge but kept the main trial intact.
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The alleged scheme centers on predetermined pitches that produced at least $450,000 in gambling winnings, with prosecutors claiming Clase deliberately spiked sliders in the dirt during 48 games spanning three seasons, including playoff appearances