COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Governor Mike DeWine commended Major League Baseball on Monday after Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the league and major gaming companies agreed to new restrictions on specific, rapid-fire wagers known as micro-prop bets.

Effective immediately, all authorized MLB gaming operators will cap wagers on pitch-level markets at $200 and will no longer allow these bets to be included in parlays. This action addresses concerns about betting irregularities, which Governor DeWine had raised in July after two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were placed on paid leave amid a sports betting investigation.

"I commend Commissioner Manfred, Major League Baseball, and its partners for taking this action to address the problem of micro-prop bets," Governor DeWine said. "By limiting the ability to place large wagers on micro-prop bets, Major League Baseball is taking affirmative steps to protect the integrity of the game and reduce the incentives to participate in improper betting schemes."

The governor also urged other professional sports leagues to adopt similar measures.

The new MLB rules arrive after federal prosecutors in New York indicted the two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, on charges related to an alleged scheme to rig pitches for profit.

The indictment claims the players conspired with bettors to fix the outcomes of micro-prop bets—wagers placed on specific in-game events like whether a particular pitch would be a ball or a strike. Ortiz was arrested in Boston, Massachusetts, while Clase is not currently in United States custody.

Micro-prop bets are seen as a high-risk area because they focus on isolated actions that can be controlled by a single player and may not affect the game’s outcome. The strict bet limit and the ban on parlays are intended to reduce the financial incentive for players to engage in misconduct.

Governor DeWine has been a proponent of protection within the sports betting market, especially after threats against University of Dayton basketball players emerged following the launch of Ohio's sports gambling laws in January 2023.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission previously enacted rules in February 2024 to ban prop bets on individual college player achievements after a request from the NCAA. Bettors in Ohio can still place bets on the overall outcome and final score of college games.

The OCCC is now authorized to audit and review gaming companies to ensure they adhere to MLB's new restrictions on pitch-level wagers.