At Tiger Stadium, Detroit

Day ...... Time ... TV ... Starters

Tonight ..... 7: 05 .. HTS .. Sidney Ponson (3-6, 5.84)

................... ......... vs. Brian Powell (1-2, 7.33)

Tomorrow .... 7: 05 .. HTS .. Mike Mussina (8-5, 3.69)

................... ......... vs. Frank Castillo (3-6, 7.70)

Thursday .... 1: 05 .. 50, 54 Doug Drabek (6-9, 7.06)

................... ......... vs. Justin Thompson (9-8, 3.67)

Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)

Tigers update

Detroit was expected to fare much better than its last-place showing in the AL Central, though the Tigers (44-59) are only four games behind second-place Minnesota. The Tigers have been slow starters, scoring in the first inning only 23 times in 103 games, and getting outscored 88-37 in the first. The Tigers also haven't been strong finishers, going 1-51 when trailing after eight innings. Leadoff hitter Brian Hunter was 6-for-40 (.150) on a just-concluded eight-game road trip, but first baseman Tony Clark went 16-for-41 (.390) and homered from both sides of the plate Sunday against Cleveland. He's 1-for-20 with 12 strikeouts lifetime against Mussina. Powell, a second-round draft pick in 1995, will be making his sixth major-league start. The Orioles will see ex-teammate Geronimo Berroa, who began the year in Cleveland before a June 24 trade. Tigers relievers have allowed only four runs in the last 34 1/3 innings. There's a possibility the Tigers won't see Drabek Thursday. The Orioles, 5-1 against Detroit this season, have considered activating Jimmy Key for tomorrow's game and pushing Mussina back to Thursday, though a club official said yesterday it's not likely to happen. (Tigers statistics, 6D)

Pub Date: 7/28/98