Langston Will Miss a Start

Mark Langston’s recuperative powers will be put to the test . . . again. The Angel pitcher’s elbow was stiff and sore after Monday night’s loss to Seattle, and the left-hander will miss his next start.

Langston sat out two starts after coming down with an inflamed elbow on April 30, and Manager Terry Collins said Tuesday that Langston is suffering from a similar condition.

Langston, who will not join the team for this weekend’s series in Toronto, was examined by team physician Lewis Yocum on Tuesday and will be reevaluated early next week.

“I’ve never been in a situation like this, where it hurts one day and doesn’t hurt the next, where it’s a day-to-day thing,” Langston said. “When I’ve blown it out, it has been with no question. This definitely is getting old. You want to turn the corner and get on with it.”

Collins said it’s possible Langston could go on the disabled list, but he thought the same thing when Langston was hurt in April, and Langston (2-3) was back in the rotation 13 days later. But Langston lasted only two starts, beating the White Sox May 13 and losing to the Mariners on Monday night.

Thursday’s off day provides Collins another opportunity to shuffle his rotation.

After Chuck Finley starts tonight’s series finale against Seattle, Dennis Springer, Allen Watson and Jason Dickson will pitch in Toronto. Finley will start Monday in Detroit, and Collins is uncertain about Tuesday’s starter, though Shigetoshi Hasegawa is the likely candidate.

“The one thing I wanted to stay away from is having to make changes in the rotation . . . because it’s hard to make up for a loss of quality pitching,” Collins said. “Mark is very disappointed, just like we all are.”

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Tony Phillips, acquired from the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, made a rare start at second base Tuesday night, but he had one minor problem. “My second baseman’s mitt is in Chicago,” he said. “But I have my third baseman’s glove here--we’ll just have to make it work.” . . . Pitcher Mark Gubicza, out since April 11 because of a sore shoulder, will throw simulated games today and this weekend, and if all goes well the right-hander will likely begin making minor league rehabilitation starts next week. Gubicza is still several weeks away from being ready to rejoin the Angels. . . . Second baseman Luis Alicea’s injured left shoulder improved Tuesday, and Collins hopes to have him back in the lineup tonight. . . . Outfielder Kevin Bass, whose comeback attempt this spring was hampered by an Achilles’ tendon injury, announced his retirement Tuesday. Bass, who did not play professionally in 1996, hit .333 with one homer in four games for triple-A Vancouver this season. . . . The Angels released veteran infielder Randy Ready from his class-A Lake Elsinore contract.

TONIGHT’S GAME

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY (1-3, 5.06 ERA) vs. MARINERS’ DENNIS MARTINEZ (1-4, 6.65 ERA)

Anaheim Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

TV--ESPN. Radio--KTZN (710).

* UPDATE--Martinez’s future could hinge on this start. The 42-year-old right- hander, who has pitched in the major leagues for more than 20 years, hinted at retirement last week, but after meeting with Seattle Manager Lou Piniella, he decided to make at least two more starts before making any decision. Martinez gave up five runs in 7 1/3 innings in his last game against Baltimore, the first of those two starts. Finley, slowed this spring by shoulder tendinitis and a broken facial bone, finally got into the win column Friday with a complete-game, five-hit victory over Milwaukee. The Mariners have been much better on the road than at home this season, entering Tuesday night’s game with a 14-7 road record and 10-12 home mark.