"The frustration of this White Sox season might be epitomized by starter Jake Peavy, who likely is headed to the disabled list again.

Less than a month after his ­return from shoulder surgery, Peavy left the game Sunday against the Detroit Tigers with a strained right groin. His exit after four innings was potentially the more serious consequence of the 7-3 loss.

''I'll probably miss more time now,'' a glum Peavy said. ''We'll evaluate it and see some doctors, but it'd be hard for this thing to just go away. We have a lot of equipment [for treatment], but the way I feel when I walk, [the disabled list] is a pretty safe bet.''

For a team hoping this homestand would be a much-needed springboard, it was one more disappointing turn in two months of inconsistency.

''He was throwing the ball well,'' said Paul Konerko, who returned to the lineup after missing two games following a wrist procedure Friday. ''Going back to the Cleveland game [May 18], he threw great. At Fenway the other night, he had a game where he battled.''

Peavy said the injury surfaced last week in Boston.

''It started to tighten up," he said. "I didn't think much of it.''

He was perfect through three innings, but when he broke to cover first base in the fourth to try to double up Don Kelly, Peavy felt some pain. "