I'm recommending a play on the Yankees on Wednesday night.  This is as much of a play against John Lackey as it is a play on New York.  The Boston right-hander is off to a rough start, losing his last two trips to the mound and getting smacked for 12 earned runs and 24 base runners in a total of 11 IP.  Lackey has offered little more than "batting practice" against AL East teams since joining the Sox and I expect more troubles tonight.  Lackey has been slammed for a 6.26 ERA in his last nine starts against the Yankees and has shown us nothing to believe he's ready to "right the ship."  The Sox, meanwhile, are just 3-9 in their last 12 against right-handed starters and they aren't hitting or scoring runs in 2014.  Michael Pineda is off to a red-hot start and already beat the Red Sox this season.  We expect more of the same (sans pine tar or "dirt") tonight at Fenway.  I'm recommending a play on the Yankees on Wednesday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

Scott Spreitzer has ROCKED the books with Playoff Blockbusters, going 2-0 thus far. His 3rd BLOCKBUSTER is a side backed by combined spots on a 27-6 ATS run! Scott's 4-2 in the playoffs this season and 19-8, 70% going back to last postseason!

I'm playing the Over between the White Sox & Tigers on Wednesday night. No Chris Sale and no Felipe Paulino, which means Andre Rienzo gets the start tonight for the Sox. The White Sox rotation is already in terrible form and now Rienzo, struggling at the Triple-A level will have to face the Tigers. The Brazilian righty will also have to face Miguel Cabrera, who's getting more aggressive at the plate and is off a 3-for-5 night on Tuesday. It also helps that the Tigers saw Rienzo last season - a definite advantage for the hitters. The Tigers will counter with Drew Smyly who struggled in his first start against the Angels. Smyly will face the league's top scoring team tonight. While the Sox pitching rotation has been lit-up, their bats have been on fire. Chicago averages 5.48 rpg (1st), owns a .267 team batting average (5th), are second in the league in OPS and have hit 25 HRs (5th). We also factor in two of the worst bullpen ERA's in the majors (Sox 28th; Tigers 27th). Chicago enters on an 8-1-1 Over run on the road against teams with a winning record and they're 7-2 to the Over against southpaws. Meanwhile, the Tigers are on a 10-3-2 Over run against right-handers. I'm playing the Over between the White Sox and Tigers, my Total Knockout on Wednesday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night. Dallas knows they can play with the Spurs, there's no intimidation when they matchup with Gregg Popovich's troops. They had the Spurs where they wanted them in Game 1, but couldn't close the deal. But the number is too high in Game 2 as far as we're concerned. Dallas led the Spurs by 10 points midway through the fourth quarter and could have won the game if Dirk Nowitzki came close to an average night. Instead, the Dallas star finished just 4-of-14 from the field. He will be more aggressive tonight and he will attack Boris Diaw on the offensive end, there's no doubt about it...he has to play that way in order for the Mavs to win the game. We only need his team to cover the big spread. The Mavs' bench was terrific, outscoring San Antone's 46-23. The Dallas reserves know they can play with San Antonio's. And we also liked the way the Mavericks clamped down on the Spurs' deep perimeter game, holding them to 3-of-17 from behind the arc (more on that in a bit). Dallas has been terrific this season on the road against teams that average at least 103 ppg, covering 13 of 15 tries. They also covered 8 of 9 against teams that make at least 39% of their 3-point attempts. As we mentioned above, the Mavericks held the Spurs in-check from the 3-point line...it's what they have done all season. And finally, the Mavs are on a 40-14 ATS run on the road against teams with a winning home record. I'm grabbing the points with Dallas, my NBA Stunner. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. So far this postseason, NBA playoff sides off a home loss are 3-1 SU & ATS. The Raptors, Pacers, and Clippers all cashed after losing, while the Bulls were the only team not to bounce back from a Game 1 loss. I expect Houston to join the three teams that landed backed in the win column. The Rockets have something the Bulls absolutely do not...a dependable offensive star in James Harden. They also have others they can count on when it comes to scoring points, including Dwight Howard. The Rocket big-man scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in Game 1, but knows he must play better, or at least more efficiently in Game 2 and I expect him to. Howard also didn't fare well on pick-and-rolls against LaMarcus Aldridge, but stated that he will switch things up a bit, denying Aldridge the post. And we also expect a better night from Harden who missed 20 of his 28 shots, while Patrick Beverly says his knee injury is a little stiff between games, but not bothering him during the actual contests. Houston's problems in Game 1 are fixable and I'm betting they'll get it done. The Rockets have been strong in tonight's situation under Kevin McHale, going 20-5 ATS at home after failing to cover in four of their last five or six games. Houston out-scored those 25 teams by an average final of 110-97. Meanwhile, the Blazers are on a 1-7 ATS slide when playing on two days rest. I'm laying the points with the Rockets, my Blockbuster on Wednesday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.