SAN FRANCISCO — Dan Haren has always lacked the luster of his big-name teammates, quietly putting up big numbers and impressing opposing hitters.

With Barry Zito out of Oakland and the spotlight mostly his own this year, Haren has shown he has the stuff and the composure to be a No. 1 pitcher on any staff, including a star-studded one at the All-Star game.

Haren was picked yesterday to start for the American League just across the bay from his home ballpark in Oakland.

"I had been always kind of under the radar," Haren said yesterday. "Now that I'm in the limelight so to speak, at least for the next couple of days, I'm just going to try to have as much fun as I can rather than putting so much pressure on myself and have this be a rough couple of days."

Haren will be on center stage tonight, facing a power-packed National League lineup featuring Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and Prince Fielder. Opposing him on the mound will be San Diego's Jake Peavy, another young pitcher just starting to come into his own.

Haren is 10-3 with an AL-leading 2.30 ERA. He certainly had the credentials to earn the All-Star start, but there was plenty of competition for AL manager Jim Leyland to sift through, including his own no-hit stud Justin Verlander of Detroit.

Two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana, C.C. Sabathia, Josh Beckett and John Lackey also are on the staff.

"I felt that Danny's numbers certainly should give him the right to start this game," Leyland said. "And I would be lying if I said that it wasn't a nice extra touch since he pitches right across the Bay here in this area. Truthfully, if this game was in Cleveland, it would probably be Sabathia and if it was in Detroit it would be Verlander. So there was a little added incentive for me."

Peavy (9-3, 2.19 ERA) earned the start for the NL, part of a remarkable turnaround from a rare off year. Peavy struggled to an 11-14 record with a 4.09 ERA last season in his worst year since becoming a full-time starter in 2003.

ALL-STAR LINEUPS

American League

Ichiro Suzuki, cf, Mariners

Derek Jeter, ss, Yankees

David Ortiz, 1b, Red Sox

Alex Rodriguez, 3b, Yankees

Vladimir Guerrero, rf, Angels

Magglio Ordonez, lf, Tigers

Ivan Rodriguez, c, Tigers

Placido Polanco, 2b, Tigers

Dan Haren, p, A’s

National League

Jose Reyes, ss, Mets

Barry Bonds, lf, Giants

Carlos Beltran, cf, Mets

Ken Griffey Jr., rf, Reds

David Wright, 3b, Mets

Prince Fielder, 1b, Brewers

Russell Martin, c, Dodgers

Chase Utley, 2b, Phillies

Jake Peavy, p, Padres

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