Bodog Beat

Ozzie Guillen hopes the return of Jim Thome will boost his Chicago's struggling bats. (AP Images)

Jim Thome is expected back in his customary designated hitter role tonight when the Chicago White Sox open a three-game series against the major league-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

The White Sox are 29th in the majors with a .219 team batting average at home and last overall with 117 runs scored at U.S. Cellular Field. Chicago is 16-18 there this season, dropping nine of 13 since last posting back-to-back wins over Pittsburgh at the end of May.

Thome will get his first look at Hiroki Kuroda, who hasn't won since coming off the disabled list on June 1 or in interleague play.

Kuroda is 0-3 with a 6.11 ERA in three starts against AL foes, and the Dodgers have scored only four runs for him in those games.

Chicago's John Danks will be Kuroda's foe tonight. Over his last four starts against NL clubs, Danks has given up two runs in 25 innings.

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