Major League Baseball

Halladay, Lincecum to start All-Star Game

Published Jul. 14, 2009 1:00 a.m. ET

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Tim Lincecum plans to enjoy this trip to the All-Star Game much more than his last one. The first thing he has to do is stay healthy so he can pitch.




The baby-faced San Francisco Giants ace was picked to start for the National League on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. Toronto right-hander Roy Halladay will get the ball for the AL.

Last year's NL Cy Young Award winner, Lincecum is 10-2 with a 2.33 ERA, making him a natural choice for NL manager Charlie Manuel. Despite a slight, boyish build, the 25-year-old right-hander is tied for the major league lead with 149 strikeouts.

Lincecum made the All-Star team last season but missed the game at Yankee Stadium because he was ill. Asked on Monday if he would take any precautions to make sure he doesn't get sick again this year, Lincecum said he would load up on fluids to remain hydrated and have Giants teammate Matt Cain "put a leash around my neck, keep me in a room."

"This is a great accomplishment for me," Lincecum said, his long, shaggy hair protruding from under a black knit cap. "I think tomorrow the big thing is going to be just getting to the field. And after that, just getting on the field."

Halladay, 10-3 with a 2.85 ERA for the Toronto Blue Jays, was selected to start by AL manager Joe Maddon of Tampa Bay.


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This is Halladay's sixth All-Star appearance, but his first starting honor — and it could be his final trip in a Toronto uniform.

Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said last week he'll listen to trade offers for the 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner, who is signed through 2010 and would have to agree to a deal.

At a news conference Monday, broadcaster Bob Costas called Halladay a member of the Blue Jays "at least for the moment," which drew a round of uneasy chuckles.

"It's tough. Obviously, I'm somewhere that I enjoy being and have spent my entire career. There's a lot, I think, that goes into it," Halladay said. "I think as a player, there's that will to win, that will to do it in October and basically that's what all of this has been about. I would like that chance. I'm not saying it won't be Toronto. You'd like to be three games up in first place and not have to deal with it."

Lincecum and Halladay each pitched Thursday, so both will be on their regular four days of rest.

In his most recent outing against San Diego, Lincecum carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and won his fourth straight outing.

Halladay, who has won more games than any other major league pitcher since 2002, has made three starts since returning from a stint on the disabled list with a groin strain.

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