(Best E Casino) - A National League West title is on the horizon for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who will try to inch closer to glory in tonight's second installment of a three-game series versus the San Diego Padres at Chavez Ravine.

The Dodgers handed the Padres a 10-1 beating in Tuesday's series opener and grabbed a three-game lead over Arizona in the NL West standings after the Diamondbacks lost to St. Louis. LA's magic number for clinching the division is now three with only five games remaining.

Nomar Garciaparra set the tone with a three-run homer during a six-run first inning and Manny Ramirez chipped in a two-run double in the frame for the Dodgers, who have won 17 of their last 22 games. Blake DeWitt also clubbed a three-run homer in the winning effort.

Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley threw six strong innings and knocked in two runs at the plate to earn the win. He gave up nine hits and just one run to win his fourth straight decision.

Los Angeles will hand the ball to youngster Clayton Kershaw on Wednesday, and the rookie is 4-5 with a 4.28 earned run average in 20 starts. Kershaw is 2-0 over his last four outings -- all LA wins -- and posted a no-decision his last time out Thursday against Pittsburgh. He yielded just one run and two hits in five innings of a 4-3 Dodgers' victory.

The lefty has faced the Padres twice this season and is 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA through 12 1/3 innings pitched. Kershaw also has held San Diego to a .200 batting average.

San Diego had a three-game winning streak come to an end with last night's setback in the series opener. Chase Headley had three hits and Edgar Gonzalez recorded the lone RBI for the Padres. Starting pitcher Wade LeBlanc gave up seven hits and seven runs in 2 2/3 innings to absorb the loss.

Shawn Estes gets the nod on Wednesday for the Friars and is 2-3 with a 4.72 earned run average in eight games (7 starts) this season. He has dropped back- to-back starts and is 1-3 over his last four decisions.

Estes was reached for five runs in five innings of a 7-2 loss on September 10 versus Los Angeles, then gave up six runs in 4 2/3 frames in a 10-3 defeat to Colorado six days later.

The oft-injured left-hander owns a 6-9 record and a 5.27 ERA in 29 career starts against Los Angeles.

Los Angeles has won 10 of the 16 matchups with San Diego this season, with a 5-2 record at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have won three straight and six of the seven most recent matchups in this series.