St. Louis, MO -- (Sports Network) - Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay and San Francisco Giants righty Tim Lincecum have been selected as the starting pitchers for the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium.

American League manager Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays and National League skipper Charlie Manuel of the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies made the announcements at a Monday news conference, also laying out the starting lineups for their respective teams.

"It's very difficult to pick that one guy," Maddon said about choosing the starting pitcher, adding Kansas City's Zack Greinke was also part of the mix. "It's not an easy decision to make. Based on this season and the body of work, I thought he deserved the nod."

Halladay has been rumored to be on his way out of Toronto, as Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi recently indicated that he would be willing to deal his top pitcher for the right package.

"It's tough," Halladay said about the subject of trade rumors. "It's somewhere I enjoy being, but it's what's going to be best for the organization. It has been tough because I enjoy Toronto so much."

The 2003 AL Cy Young winner, Halladay owns a record of 10-3 with a 2.85 earned run average in 17 starts this season. He spent some time in June on the 15-day disabled list with a strained groin and is 0-2 in three starts since returning from the injury.

Halladay becomes the third different Blue Jay to start an All-Star Game, joining David Wells in 2000 and Dave Stieb in 1983 and '84.

"When you do get a chance to be that first one out, it's special. It doesn't happen very often. It's a special feeling.

Lincecum, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, has a record of 10-2 with a 2.33 ERA and a league-best 149 strikeouts in 18 starts this season. He's won his last four starts and in his last outing on Thursday took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before also having a streak of 29 consecutive scoreless innings stopped.

"This is a great accomplishment for me," said Lincecum, who was selected for the NL All-Star team last year, but was unable to pitch because of an illness.

Lincecum will be the fifth different San Francisco Giants pitcher to start an All-Star Game. The last was Jason Schmidt in 2003, while Rick Reuschel started the 1989 game and Vida Blue opened the 1978 contest. Juan Marichal had two All-Star starts in 1965 and '67.

The lineup for the American League will open with Seattle right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, who will be followed by New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer. Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira will bat cleanup.

Boston's Jason Bay will hit fifth and play left field, with Texas center fielder Josh Hamilton next. Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria will bat seventh, followed by Toronto second baseman Aaron Hill, who will start in place of Boston's Dustin Pedroia, and Halladay.

Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez will lead off for the National League and will be followed by Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley, St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols and Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, who will play right field.

Philadelphia left fielder Raul Ibanez will bat fifth, followed by New York Mets third baseman David Wright and Philadelphia's Shane Victorino, who was selected to the NL squad in the Final Vote and will play center field in place of the injured Carlos Beltran of the Mets. Yadier Molina of St. Louis will catch and bat eighth, with Lincecum ninth.

Once again, the winner of the All-Star Game will give its league home field advantage in the World Series.

The American League has won the last six All-Star Games, including a 4-3 victory in 15 innings last year at Yankee Stadium, and is 11-0-1 in the last 12 Mid-Summer Classics. The National League last won in 1996 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.