(Best E Casino) - The NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs will shoot for their fifth straight win this evening, when they resume a four-game series with the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs, who are one game ahead of St. Louis in the division standings, handed the Padres a 12-3 setback in Monday's opener of this set. Alfonso Soriano belted a two-run homer, while Geovany Soto and Mark DeRosa also drove in two runs apiece for the Cubs, who were coming off an impressive three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Carlos Zambrano made another quality start for Chicago, hurling seven innings and giving up three runs on six hits and two walks. Zambrano also fanned five batters to improve to 6-1 on the season.

Chicago is 4-0 on a 10-game homestand, and will also host the Pittsburgh Pirates for three games in the Windy City.

Jason Marquis will try to shake off a pair of poor outings when he toes the rubber for the Cubs on Tuesday. Marquis is 1-2 with a 5.08 ERA in six starts this season, and is riding a personal two-start skid.

On April 29 versus Milwaukee, Marquis gave up five runs and 10 hits in five innings of a 10-7 loss. He then surrendered five runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 frames during a 5-3 setback at St. Louis on May 4.

The right-hander is 3-2 with a 3.47 earned run average in seven career appearances (6 starts) against San Diego.

The Padres just had their two-game winning streak come to an end and dropped their fifth straight on the road after yesterday's drubbing. Jody Gerut went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and two walks for the Padres, who have dropped six of their last eight outings overall.

Starter Randy Wolf lasted only four innings for San Diego, surrendering seven runs on eight hits and five walks. Sean Henn fared no better in relief, yielding five runs on three hits and three walks over just 1 2/3 innings.

San Diego will roll the dice with veteran Shawn Estes tonight. The veteran hasn't started a game since April 5, 2006 versus San Francisco, when was reached for three runs in six innings of a 3-1 setback to absorb the loss. Estes, who was recalled from Triple-A Portland earlier this month, missed the entire 2007 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

The left-hander made a relief appearance Thursday at Atlanta, allowing two unearned runs in 1 2/3 frames of a 5-4 loss.

Estes is just one win away from 100 for his career (99-90), and owns a 5-3 mark with a 5.70 ERA in 12 career starts against the Cubs.

The Padres went 5-3 against the Cubs last season, with a 3-2 mark at Wrigley Field, and are 12-4 over the previous 16 matchups in this series.