The President meets Prince Albert tonight in St Louis as Major League Baseball marks the half-way point of the season with its 80th annual All Star Game. It is hard to predict who will receive the more rapturous reception from the crowd: Barack Obama, the President of the United States, who will throw out the ceremonial first pitch - or the man who will catch it, Albert Pujols.

Both have star quality. "Prince Albert" is the darling of the St Louis Cardinals fans and will be the centre of attention at Busch Stadium once Obama has vacated the mound. With 32 home runs and 87 runs batted in already, as well as a .332 batting average, this could end up as the best year of the first baseman's already exceptional career. Described by his manager, Tony La Russa, as the "perfect player", he has hit more than 30 home runs in each of his nine Major League seasons and has been the outstanding performer so far this season.

Who knows, perhaps a good performance from Pujols and the National League might even win this evening. The National League has not beaten the American League since 1996 - and the American League has produced more World Series winners over the same timespan.

Rick Sutcliffe, a three-time All Star pitcher who ended his career with the Cardinals in 1994, thinks the National League will break its losing habit tonight. "I feel the National League is going to win. Pujols is the best player in the game; the whole infield for the National League is better and the pitching and benches are fairly even. Comparing the line-ups, by five spots to four I favour the National League," Sutcliffe, now a television commentator, said.

At least one player from all 30 MLB teams is represented on the rosters, selected through votes from fans and players or picked by the two managers. Sutcliffe's first All Star selection came in 1983 when he was with the Cleveland Indians. "I didn't think it was possible. When you get into that locker room and the greatest players in the world are there and you see your name over a locker, you're in disbelief, you're so thankful and I gained a lot of confidence from it," he said. "I asked a lot of questions, I was a sponge. I got autographs... wow."

While an exhibition match, the result will have lasting consequences. Whichever league wins tonight will secure home-field advantage for the World Series thanks to a rule introduced by Bud Selig, the commissioner of MLB, to reinvigorate the contest after the controversial 2002 Game, which ended in a draw after the teams ran out of pitchers. If the National League win this evening, the National League club in this year's World Series will have four home games to the American League club's three should the best-of-seven Series go all the way.

Sutcliffe is uneasy with the concept, suggesting it has created an identity problem. "Last year the Red Sox were a great home team but they did not even win half their games on the road," he said. "Hand them four out of seven games at home and you're giving them a huge advantage. But if you look at the All Star Game, it's played without that [normal] intensity. I see two things bumping against each other. Both managers want to get all the players in the game. But if you're truly trying to win it..."

Tim Lincecum, of the San Francisco Giants, and Roy Halladay, of the Toronto Blue Jays, will be the starting pitchers. Halladay could be forgiven if he is distracted as he is the subject of trade rumours, with his club admitting last week that they are prepared to listen to offers for their ace.

Toronto are in fourth place in the American League East division, in which the Boston Red Sox have a three-game lead over the New York Yankees. The race for the post-season is firmly alive in all six divisions across both leagues, though the Los Angeles Dodgers look strong favourites to finish first in the National League West. They are Sutcliffe's tip to reach the World Series.

"The Dodgers' pitching and defense have been outstanding, they're looking at getting a big name pitcher - they're looking at Halladay and Cliff Lee [of the Indians]." he said. "In the American League, the best teams are going to beat each other up all year and you wonder what they'll have left. The Los Angeles Angels are a 'sleeper' team. I think they're the team that could sneak in. They should be fresh, they can win their division by five to ten games and be in a pretty good position for the play-offs."

Prince Fielder, of the Milwaukee Brewers, was a surprise winner of Monday night's Home Run Derby, launching 23 home runs, including one shot that travelled an estimated 503 yards. It is doubtful that Pujols will allow himself to be overshadowed for two nights in succession in front of his home crowd.

The 80th MLB All-Star Game airs live and exclusive on ESPN America (Sky Channel 417) at 12.30am tonight. For more details visit www.espnamerica.com