Guardians notes: MLB extends paid leave for Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz until Aug. 31

CLEVELAND — Major League Baseball and the Players Association agreed to extend the non-disciplinary paid leave for Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz through Aug. 31 while the league continues to investigate gambling allegations. Ortiz was placed on leave July 3 through the All-Star break after a sports book reported suspicious betting on first pitches from the right-hander. "We have been informed of the extension and will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation," the Guardians said in a statement. General manager Mike Chernoff was asked about the situation prior to the series opener against the Athletics on Friday. "I can't comment on that. There's no information that I have that's not out there," he said. "Obviously, we would love it if he was pitching for us and he's not." Ortiz, acquired in an offseason trade from the Pirates, has made 16 starts for Cleveland, posting a 4-9 record and 4.36 ERA. KWAN OUT Instead of entering the second half healthy, the Guardians are dealing with a laundry list of injuries, including one to All-Star left fielder Steven Kwan. Kwan was out of the lineup Friday night for the series opener against the Athletics and is listed as day-to-day with a nagging right wrist injury that bothered him throughout the first half. Kwan played in the All-Star Game in Atlanta and drove in the game-tying run in the ninth inning to force a swing-off in the National League's victory Tuesday. He was examined by doctors Wednesday and received an injection. "We encouraged him to go play in the All-Star Game," manager Stephen Vogt said. "He earned the right to go play in that All-Star Game. ... We knew the injection could be a possibility. We've been talking about that for the last month." In other injury news, right-hander Shane Bieber (right elbow surgery) is scheduled to make a rehab start (3 innings, 30 pitches) at an Ohio-based minor league affiliate Tuesday — his second since a setback shut him down for two weeks. Reliever Paul Sewald could be lost for the season after an MRI revealed what Vogt called a "moderate tear strain" in his right shoulder. Sewald, who has been limited to 18 appearances, had just returned from the IL after missing over two months with a shoulder strain.Right-hander Nic Enright was recalled from Columbus to take Sewald's spot in the bullpen. Shortstop Gabriel Arias (left ankle sprain) began a rehab assignment at Columbus on Friday, while center fielder Lane Thomas (plantar fasciitis) has begun to participate in baseball activities. Trevor Stephan (right elbow) is nearing the end of his 30-day rehab deadline at Columbus. The Guardians can activate him or apply for an extension since the right-hander is returning from UCL surgery. Travis Bazanna (oblique strain) was activated from the IL at Double-A Akron and was in the lineup Friday. He was sidelined for more than two months in his first full season on the professional level. ROUNDIN' THIRD The Guardians' opponents for the remainder of the regular season entered Friday with a combined .476 winning percentage. Of Cleveland's next 33 games, 30 are against teams under .500. Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on X @CAwesomeheimer.