I'm laying the price with the Texas Rangers as they seek their 5th straight win on Saturday night. The Rangers have caught fire, out-scoring the opposition by an average of 7-2 during their four-game winning streak. Meanwhile, the White Sox bats have hit the skids. Chicago has lost three in a row and four of six, scoring a grand total of just 7 runs in their last four games. They have allowed 6 runs or more nine times this season and four teams have scored at least 10 runs against White Sox pitching already this season, including Texas in their 12-0 win last night. The Sox have won just 11 of their last 52 on the road against teams with a winning record and enter just 2-9 in Jose Quintana's last 11 road starts against teams with a winning record. Meanwhile, the Rangers are on a 43-18 run at home against teams playing less than .400 road baseball and they're on a 15-2 run as home chalk. I expect the Texas bats to give Colby Lewis all the support he needs and I'm backing the Texas Rangers, my Late Release Slammer. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm backing the KC Royals on Saturday afternoon. Kansas City beat the Twins last night extending their winning streak to four straight. The Royals lost their first two games of the season to Detroit in the Tigers' last at-bat both nights and they were swept in a 3-game set in Minnesota last weekend. But they're 8-2 in their other 10 games and can continue to gain a measure of series revenge over the Twins in this one. Kevin Correia threw a decent game (ND) in a 4-3 Twins win over the Royals last Sunday. But Correia did not fare well against KC in five starts over the last three seasons and he was tagged hard in two starts at tonight's venue, Kauffman Stadium. Bruce Chen received the "all-clear" on Friday (leg). Chen has a chance to exact some revenge of his own after getting knocked around by the Twins on April 11. The Royal lefty posted a 3.31 ERA in 11 appearances, including 8 starts against the Twins over the previous three seasons. Chen has been outstanding in his last 47 appearances at "The K" and he's backed by a decent pen, while Correia's relievers rank in the bottom-third in MLB. Minnesota averaged just 3.7 rpg against southpaws last season and I expect them to struggle again in this one. The Twins have won just 5 of Correia's last 22 starts, including a 2-8 mark when he starts on the road. Meanwhile, the Royals are on an 8-1 run when Chen is listed as a home favorite and they're on a 39-18 run in their last 57 as chalk, overall. I'm laying the price with the Royals, my Afternoon Annihilator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm recommending a play on the Orioles on Saturday.  Boston is really struggling at home, leaving a lot of runners on base (12 last night).  This is a concern for the Sox on Saturday because Baltimore's offense is starting to find their groove, scoring 8 runs and 7 runs in two of their last three games.  Felix Doubront is off to a tough start, despite a better showing in the Bronx last time out, and he's struggled against Chris Davis and Nick Markakis.  The two Baltimore hitters have combined for 14 hits in 31 at-bats against the Red Sox lefty.  It's going to be tough for Boston to "keep up" in my opinion.  After all, they rank 25th, 23rd, and 25th in runs scored per game, team batting average, and OPS.  They will "find" their bats sooner than later, but until they do, we'll look to take advantage, going against a currently over-priced team.  The Orioles are on a 4-0 underdog run and they have won four of the last five meetings at Fenway.  Meanwhile, the Sox are on a 0-5 slide against right-handed starters.  I'm recommending a play on the Orioles on Saturday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

Scott Spreitzer begins the day on a 15-6, 71% winning run and he enters with a 42-29 mark in 2014! Start the postseason with Scott's EARLY KNOCKOUT, the side between the Nets & Raptors, backed by combined spots on a 40-5 ATS winning run!

I'm backing the NY Mets on Saturday. Bartolo Colon began the season with a pair of quality starts before getting rocked last time out by the Angels. But the Halos are MLB's highest scoring team per game and have hit more home runs than any team in the league. Atlanta, meanwhile, ranks in the bottom-third in the league, scoring an average of 3.88 rpg. It's been all about the pitching for the Braves, including today's starter, Ervin Santana. The veteran righty was supposed to ease the pain of a banged-up rotation, but he's dominated so far in April. But the money line has caught up to Atlanta and Santana and we'll grab the value with the home underdog. The Mets enter on a 5-0 run off a loss and Colon's teams are on a 24-11 run when he pitches at night, with the 35 opponents averaging just 2.9 rpg. Finally, Colon is 4-0 against the Braves lifetime, sporting a 1.20 ERA & 0.97 WHIP. He's expected to start tonight and get back on track after some back issues against the Angels. The two particulars pitched well against each other's team already this season, but we expect Colon to get the best of an inconsistent Atlanta offense in this one. I'm backing the NY Mets, my Saturday Shocker. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. The Nets' roster is full of veteran players who have been there and done that. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are two of those vets - who not only know what it takes to win a title, but were also quite shrewd in their last few seasons playing for Doc Rivers in Boston. As I stated on my Las Vegas radio show, I believe the Nets were playing a clever brand of basketball to end the regular season, virtually "tanking" to draw the Toronto Raptors to open the playoffs. A series with the Raptors at least draws up as a more winnable series than if the Nets would have finished 5th and opened with Chicago. Brooklyn is off a 1-4 SU slide to end the season, including a 29-point loss at Cleveland last time out. But under the coaching of Jason Kidd, the Nets are a perfect 8-0 ATS on the road off a loss by at least 15 points, out-scoring the eight opponents by an average of 103-95. And NBA road teams with a +3/-3 line range are 32-5 ATS if they average 98 to 102 ppg, allowed 100 points or more in two straight games, and are playing a team that gives up 98 to 102 ppg. That's a combined 40-5 ATS mark. But most of all, I like the veteran savvy of the Nets against the more youthful Raptors in Game-1. The Nets are my early Knockout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.