8* play on Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs are still the hottest team in the major leagues, sitting at the top of the NL Central with a 12-3 record. They are four games clear of the second place Pirates, and they'll play Game 3 of this series versus fourth place Cincinnati Saturday. Chicago has out-scored Cincinnati 24-1 in this series so far, and I expect another dominant showing in Game 3.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - John Lackey will go for the Cubs, and he's off to a hot start to the year. Lackey (3-0, 3.66 ERA) went seven innings, striking out 11 and giving up just four hits in a win at St. Louis in his last start. He's 2-2 with a 2.90 ERA in his last eight starts versus the Reds. Cincinnati will counter with Dan Straily, who is still looking for his first win of the year.

2. Batter vs. Pitcher - Jay Bruce leads the Reds with a batting average of .286 with four home runs and 15 RBIs this season. He's batting only .200 with five strikeouts in 14 career at bats versus Lackey.

3. X-Factor - Anthony Rizzo is second in the National League with 17 RBIs so far, and he's hit a pair of home runs and driven in four runs in the first two games of this series.

Selection: This is a play on the Chicago Cubs (8*)