The voids left in the White Sox starting rotation were evident again Tuesday night against the Twins.

Bursitis in his left elbow has left left-hander Carlos Rodon on the disabled list since before the start of the season. Right-hander James Shields hasn't pitched since April 16 thanks to a right lat strain.

As a result, Mike Pelfrey started for the fourth time for the White Sox, who fell 7-2 to the Twins for their fourth consecutive loss.

Pelfrey gave up three runs — two via a Kennys Vargas home run in the fourth — for the third straight start, the longest of which lasted 51/3 innings. This time he retired the first eight hitters he faced.

Still, his ERA rose to 5.21. The right-hander has allowed 11 earned runs, 20 hits and seven walks with six strikeouts in 19 innings.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said before the game that Rodon was making progress in Arizona, where he has pitched off a mound but has yet to throw in a live game. There still is no timetable for his return.

Rodon was on a slow-down program to start spring training, similar to the one Chris Sale was on in 2016. But Hahn insisted that had nothing to do with injury.

“I do … sense that from early in spring there seemed to be a little bit of doubt about how we were handling Carlos, as if we were hiding something,” Hahn said. “… Unfortunately sometimes these guys don't progress on a linear basis. … You're dealing with medical issues and physical issues and guys heal at different paces.”

The White Sox's other fill-in starter, Dylan Covey, will pitch this weekend against the Padres, manager Rick Renteria said. Covey is 0-3 with an 8.28 ERA in 25 innings spanning five starts.