The Yankees’ Gerrit Cole pitches against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning Saturday in New York. (AP photo)

“I’ve always been like, man, I really hope I could do that one day,” the New York Yankees ace said Monday.

He’s getting his chance. Cole will start tonight for the American League and Arizona’s Zac Gallen will open on the mound for NL, the first time Yankees and Diamondbacks have both All-Star starters since Roger Clemens faced Randy Johnson in the 2001 game at Seattle.

“I feel like I’ve worked hard. This is something that I dreamed of as a kid,” Gallen said. “So for it to come to fruition is everything and more, really.”

AL manager Dusty Baker of Houston and NL manager Rob Thomson of Philadelphia announced their starting lineups on Monday before the annual Home Run Derby.

National League starting pitcher Zac Gallen of the Arizona Diamondbacks, left, and American League starting pitcher Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees pose for a photo following a press conference on Monday in Seattle. The All-Star Game will be played tonight. (AP photo)

Baker said Sunday that Cole wouldn’t pitch in the All-Star Game because he would be going on two days’ rest after throwing 103 pitches in a 9-2 win over the Chicago Cubs in New York on Saturday.

“He wanted it,” Baker said Monday. “A lot of guys, sometimes they might not want to pitch in this particular game, but he wanted to pitch. Hey man, if a guy like Gerrit Cole wants to pitch, I’ll let him pitch.”

“It’s just always something that I’ve wanted to do, and I feel like I’m physically able to do it,” Cole added.

Baker’s AL batting order has Texas second baseman Marcus Semien leading off, followed by Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, Tampa Bay left fielder Randy Arozarena, Texas shortstop Corey Seager, Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz, Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia, Baltimore center fielder Austin Hays, Texas third baseman Josh Jung and Rangers catcher Jonah Heim.

Atlanta right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. leads off for the NL, followed by Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, Dodgers center fielder Mookie Betts, Dodgers designated hitter J.D. Martinez, St. Louis third baseman Nolan Arenado, Miami second baseman Luis Arraez, Braves catcher Sean Murphy, Arizona rookie left fielder Corbin Carroll and Atlanta shortstop Orlando Arcia.

Two players elected to start by fans will miss the game because of injuries. Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge tore a ligament in his right big toe on June 3 and Angels center fielder Mike Trout broke his left wrist on July 3.

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