Can Verlander, Fielder lead AL All-Star Team to home-field advantage?

The 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game is upon us and two Tigers will be taking the field to start for the American League at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

Reigning AL MVP Justin Verlander was named the AL’s starting pitcher while Prince Fielder was voted in to start at first base. Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera will also take the field at some point during the night as a reserve player.

First pitch is at 8:15 p.m. on Fox with the winning league receiving home-field advantage in this year’s World Series.

The National League has won the last two meetings between the two leagues, winning a 5-1 decision in Phoenix last year and a 3-1 decision in Anaheim the year before. Prior to that, the AL had been unbeaten in 13 straight seasons (12-0-1).

Could this be the year a Tigers player finally breaks through and is named MVP of the game? After winning the Home Run Derby last night, Fielder could make a case tonight for his second straight All-Star Game MVP award after winning last year when he represented Milwaukee for the NL.

The last time a Tigers pitcher has been involved in the decision was 1985 when Jack Morris was the losing pitcher of the game in Minneapolis. Tigers pitchers are 3-4 all-time in the game.

Stay with us all night as we give you a running account of tonight’s game. But before we go for now, here are tonight’s starting lineups:

National League

1. Carlos Gonzales, DH
2. Melky Cabrera, CF
3. Ryan Braun, LF
4. Joey Votto, 1B
5. Carlos Beltran, RF
6. Buster Posey, C
7. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
8. Dan Uggla, 2B
9. Rafael Furcal, SS

American League

1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Robinson Cano, 2B
3. Josh Hamilton, LF
4. Jose Bautista, RF
5. Prince Fielder, 1B
6. Adrian Beltre, 3B
7. David Ortiz, DH
8. Mike Napoli, C
9. Curtis Granderson, CF

Justin Verlander is the starting pitcher.