Dylan Covey struggles early in White Sox’ loss to Blue Jays

TORONTO — The rotation has been an issue for the White Sox all season, and Friday was no different.

In his second start of the season, right-hander Dylan Covey stumbled early in the Sox’ 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Before the game, manager Rick Renteria said he hoped Covey would execute his pitches and minimize the damage. But that didn’t happen.

Covey’s command was shaky from the get-go.

After the Jays grounded into a double play in the first inning, Covey issued back-to-back walks before giving up a three-run home run to right fielder Randal Grichuk.

In the next inning, Jays left fielder Teoscar Hernandez hit a leadoff homer off Covey, who’s taking left-hander Carlos Rodon’s spot in the rotation.

Rodon is out with left elbow inflammation, and the Sox fear he might need Tommy John surgery.

Renteria believes Covey has made great strides since he returned earlier this month from his brief stint with Class AAA Charlotte. He said Covey needs to trust his ability.

“He’s continued to work on the same thing, commanding the strike zone,” Renteria said. “But I think more than anything, time and experience have given him maybe greater perspective, a better understanding of what he can do.”

Covey walked five, allowed three hits and struck out three in 4⅔ innings.

‘‘I trust my stuff,” Covey said. “Today’s just one of those days where it wasn’t really there for me. I didn’t have my best stuff. Two-out walks hurt.”

Renteria is confident Covey has what it takes to be a mainstay in the rotation.

“He’s going to continue to get better, I believe,” Renteria said. “And we’ll continue to trust as time goes on that he’ll be able to eat up more innings.”

Covey’s subpar performance comes on the heels of Manny Banuelos’ poor outing in the series finale against the Indians in which he allowed eight hits and five runs in 4⅓ innings.

These back-to-back rough outings aren’t isolated. The rotation has been inconsistent all season.

“All of them have different [issues],” Renteria said of his starting pitchers.

This month, the Sox’ starters have combined for a 6.54 ERA with 25 walks in 52⅓ innings.

The bullpen has made up for some of the rotation’s struggles. Four Sox relievers allowed only two hits in 3⅓ scoreless innings.

“The starters are going to pick up the bullpen guys, and then there are times where the relievers have to pick up the starters,’’ said reliever Aaron Bummer, who lately has been one of the more consistent arms in the bullpen.

“It all kind of balances out in the end. But you have faith in the guys in front of you and behind you to get the jobs done, so at this time, you just go out there and do your job until someone takes you out of the game.”

While the pitching remains a work in progress, the Sox’ lineup put together some strong at-bats.

Jose Abreu hit a double in the first that scored Yoan Moncada for his 35th RBI, tying him with Domingo Santana of the Mariners for the American League lead.

Tim Anderson hit his seventh home run, a solo shot to left-center field.

‘‘We swung the bat well,” Renteria said. “We gave ourselves a chance to come back.

‘‘We just have to keep playing. . . . If we play good defense and the pitching holds its own, it’s no secret: Good pitching, some timely hitting and defense is a good formula.”