The starting pitchers for Tuesday night’s All-Star game were finally announced on Monday. Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants will be starting for the National League, while Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays will start for the American League.

With only two years of professional experience, Lincecum has already claimed the National League’s Cy Young Award and was named to last year’s All-Star team. Illness on game day, however, had left him out of the competition.

He hasn’t forgotten his missed opportunity. “The biggest thing for me is getting to the field…and getting on the field,” the 25-year-old Lincecum stated during his press conference.

Lincecum is 10-2 and boasts a 2.33 ERA, second in the NL. He tops NL charts in strikeouts (with 149) and complete games (with 3) and ranks second in walks and hits/innings pitched (with 1.05). He beat out the ever-popular and equally impressive Dan “the Baron” Haren for the starting spot at Busch stadium.

During the press conference the starter added, “I’m going to have Matt Cain (a fellow Giants member and 2009 All-Star) put a leash around my neck and keep me in my room [tonight].”

Lincecum ought to ready himself. Roy Halladay, Lincecum’s starting opponent, has an equally remarkable record. The 32-year-old right hander boasts a 10-3 record that places him third in the American League, a 2.85 ERA that gives him fourth in the AL, and on astonishing 106:17 strikeout to walk ratio.

The 2009 All-Star game will be Halladay’s sixth, although it is the first time he has started. It may, however, be the last time Halladay appears in a Blue Jays uniform. Rumors have surfaced that the Jays, with whom Halladay is contracted through 2010, might look for a trade. The whispers rose to shouts during the press conference, when the moderator, Bob Costas, stated that Halliday was “representing, at least for the moment, the Toronto Blue Jays.”

Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said last week that he would consider trade offers.

Halliday, however, would have to agree to any trade taking place prior to the end of his contract.

“It’s tough. Obviously, I’m somewhere that I enjoy being and have spent my entire career,” the 2003 Young Cy Award winner admitted. “I think as a player, there’s that will to win, that will to do it in October and that’s what all of this has been about. I would like that chance. I’m not saying it won’t be Toronto,” Halliday added. “You’d like to be three games up in first place and not have to deal with it.”

The rest of the AL lineup includes Ichiro Suzuki in right field, Derek Jeter as shortstop, Joe Mauer as center, Mark Teixeira at first base, Jason Bay in left field, Josh Hamilton in center field, Evan Longoria at third, and Aaron Hill at second. Joe Maddon is managing.

The rest of the NL lineup includes Hanley Ramirez as shortstop, Chase Utley at second, Albert Pujols at first, Ryan Braun at right field, Raul Ibanez at left field, David Wright at third, Shane Victorino in center field, and Yadier Molina at center.