ARLINGTON -- After Corbin Burnes completed his final start of the first half on Wednesday, the Orioles’ ace was asked whether he had decided if he’d attend the 2024 MLB All-Star Game.

“Not yet, not yet. There’s two-week-old babies that are complicating things right now,” said Burnes, whose wife, Brooke, gave birth to twin daughters, Charlotte and Harper, on June 28.

With his wife’s encouragement, Burnes will be at the Midsummer Classic -- and not only that, he’ll be starting it.

On Monday, Burnes was announced as the starting pitcher for the American League, meaning he’ll take the mound at Globe Life Field in Arlington for the top of the first inning to open Tuesday’s All-Star Game (8 p.m. ET, FOX). It’ll be the first ASG starting assignment for the 29-year-old right-hander, who is making his fourth consecutive All-Star appearance (although the previous three came in the National League with Milwaukee from 2021-23).

“First of all, I think you have to look at his résumé, what he's done in baseball,” said Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, the skipper for the AL squad. “He's had an incredible career. This is his fourth consecutive All-Star Game. What he's done this year in Baltimore, they're leading their division. He's a big reason for that.

“In my mind, it's just his time. It's his time to start an All-Star Game. That's why I chose him.”

It will be the first time a Baltimore pitcher has started an All-Star Game since Steve Stone in 1980. Hall of Famer Jim Palmer ('70, '72, '77 and '78) and Milt Pappas ('65) also started Midsummer Classics while representing the O’s.

The AL team will have an all-Orioles battery, with catcher Adley Rutschman starting behind the plate. It’s the first time a team has had both the starting pitcher and catcher at an All-Star Game since 2016, when Giants teammates Johnny Cueto and Buster Posey started for the National League.

When Rutschman was asked about Burnes’ assignment at All-Star media day, the 26-year-old backstop hadn’t yet heard the news.

“He is? Oh, that’s sick. Awesome,” Rutschman said. “I’m super excited. That’s going to be awesome. I’ll feel very comfortable, very at home.”

“It’s going to be special for both those guys,” said infielder Jordan Westburg, also among Baltimore’s five All-Stars. “I think it’s going to be fun. You’re going to see some smiles, I’m sure. Hopefully, he can put up a zero and get three outs.”

The NL lineup is topped by the trio of D-backs second baseman Ketel Marte, Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, so it won’t be an easy task. But Burnes should be up for the challenge.

Acquired from the Brewers in a Feb. 1 trade, Burnes has been everything the Orioles expected he would be during the first half of his first season in Baltimore. The 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner recorded a 2.43 ERA and a 1.045 WHIP in 19 starts, racking up 110 strikeouts over 118 2/3 innings.

Five O’s starters have spent time on the injured list this season, with three of them -- Kyle Bradish (Tommy John surgery), John Means (Tommy John surgery) and Tyler Wells (UCL repair) -- out for the year. Meanwhile, Burnes has brought stability at the top of the rotation.

Burnes has completed at least five innings every time out, and he’s allowed three or fewer earned runs in all but one outing -- June 22 at Houston, where he gave up four over a season-high-tying seven frames.

Of Burnes’ 19 appearances, 15 have resulted in quality starts -- 10 of which came consecutively from April 26-June 16, a career-best streak for the seven-year MLB veteran.

“Just really consistently good. Like I said every time, he gives us a great chance to win every single time he takes the ball and goes out there,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’s just been a real rock in our rotation, been a No. 1 guy.”