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Somehow, allowing gambling to be associated with professional sports has allowed gamblers to…wait for it…infiltrate professional sports.

Somewhere, a U.S. Supreme Court justice is saying, “Whaaaaaaat? How’d that happen?”

This week, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted on charges they took bribes from gamblers. The indictment alleges the payoffs ensured the pitchers would spike the first pitch of their appearances in the dirt, which would allow the bettors to win their in-game prop bets. Other bets described in the indictment included whether one of the pitchers would throw a certain pitch at less than an expected speed.

The indictment was unsealed Sunday in federal court in Brooklyn, It says Clase, who made $4.5 million this season and Ortiz, who made $760,000, helped two unnamed gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000. A good portion of that -several hundred thousand dollars- was then paid to the pitchers, according to reporting by NPR.org.

Clase and Ortiz have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July. That appears to be around the time that Major League Baseball notified federal authorities of its suspicions. Clase is accused of participating in this dirt ball scheme since 2023. Ortiz is alleged to have joined him this year, because the best way to keep a good illegal thing going…is to tell other people about it.

Ortiz and Clase “betrayed America’s pastime,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said. “Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us.”

No kidding. Where was this guy in 2018 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that anti-sports betting laws were unconstitutional?

It was only a matter of time, really. With everything from pitch speed to the shade of orange on A-Rod’s cheating, suing, permagrin face, bettors have been able to scratch any itch they wish as they added mortgages to the house and “borrowed” from the kids’ college funds.

The gambling sites don’t really care, not with billions in the bank and people who think the . “Gambling problem” blurb at the end of those commercials doesn’t apply to them. According to businessapps.com, FanDuel cleared $5.79 billion in 2014.

That said, Major League Baseball’s sportsbook partners have set a $200 betting limit for wagers on individual pitches. They also banned them in parlays, according to MLB on Monday.

Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, said in a statement that his client was innocent and “has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.”

Maybe so. Maybe not. Maybe it’s a coincidence he threw a ball to the backstop during one outing. Clase’s lawyer has not commented and was possibly looking at texts from his client that were sent to the Dominican nimrods before coming up with a snappy retort. From the looks of things, both men are looking at 20 years playing for the New York Penal League.

In one outing, Andy Pages reportedly interfered with the scheme by swinging at a pitch nowhere near the strike zone during an at-bat for the Dodgers. Clase is alleged to have sent a text to the bettors after that included a toilet paper noose and a text that had the feel of, “Damn! Can’t believe Pages swung at that! Whoooops!” Though I’m disgusted by Clase’s behavior if he is guilty, I would like to know where he found the emoji. I’ve got nothing that comes close to that.

Clase and Ortiz are both charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery.

What’s stunning is how little Clase made in the scheme relative to what he stands to lose, like, the remaining year of the $20 million contract he signed three four years ago. Dude is a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year. Dude now has some explaining to do.

He’s not the only one, sadly and baseball is not the only sport. Hey, guys, do you now understand why gamblers and sports shouldn’t mix?

Last month, more than 30 people were arrested for their alleged parts in gambling schemes in the National Basketball Association. This included Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.

Billups’ involvement isn’t quite on the same level as Pete Rose, but it’s close. And If guys of those caliber can be involved, it’s proof anyone can. Hopefully the arrest of an all-star and the lifetime ban for San Diego infielder Tucupita Marcano (He was accused of placing 387 bets worth $150,000) will serve as a deterrent to others.

But, with such easy access…and with so many people willing to glom on…it’s only a matter of time before we see this again.