The Chicago Cubs are winners of five on the bounce and eight of their last nine. They have covered the runline in the majority of those triumphs, and I like them to put a big beating on the Kansas City Royals tonight.

Royals' right-hander Kris Bubic (0-1, 4.50 ERA) has just major league start under his belt when he gave up three runs (two earned) in four innings of a loss to the White Sox on August 1. He'll be opposed by Cubs' lefty Yu Darvish (1-1, 2.70 ERA) who knocked out seven through six scoreless innings of two-hit ball against Pittsburgh last time out. In five career starts against the Royals, Darvish is 2-1 with a 2.34 ERA.

The Cubs are top 10 in the major leagues with their 5.20 runs per game while Royals are in the bottom third with 3.64 rpg. I'm counting on the red hot Cubs obliterate the Royals in this one.

10* play on Chicago Cubs -1.5.