Oakland A's pitcher Mark Mulder, a former star at MSU, will start for the American League in the 2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at 8 p.m. today in Houston.

Mulder is tied for the MLB lead in victories at the All-Star break with a record of 12-2 and a 3.21 ERA.

Mulder was the second overall pick in 1998 after he earned third team All-American honors and set an MSU single-season record with 113 strikeouts and only 19 walks in his junior season with the Spartans. He led the Big Ten in strikeouts with 12.01 per game.

Mulder will be the second former Spartan to start an All-Star game. Robin Roberts started five times at the All-Star game as he represented the Philadelphia Phillies in 1950-51 and 1953-55.