A’s pregame notes: Vogt award reaction, Davis 99 RBIs and counting, Rangers could clinch

Stephen Vogt is no less thrilled to win his third Catfish Hunter Award as he was his first.

“One of these is the biggest honor you can have,” Vogt said. “So to get it three years in a row, I’m completely blown away especially given that it’s basically three different groups of people.

“I’m humbled, I’m honored, I’m really at a loss for words. To have your teammates think of you in this light and in this regard is the highest honor you can receive.”

Vogt is to be acknowledged on the field before Friday night’s A’s-Rangers game.

The award goes annually to an A’s player “whose play on the field and conduct in the clubhouse best exemplifies the courageous, competitive and inspirational spirit demonstrated by the late Hall of Fame pitcher.”

Voting is conducted by players, coaches and staff.

Davis returns: After missing games Tuesday and Wednesday with an illness, Khris Davis is back in the lineup. Not good news for Rangers considering Davis is hitting .370 with 10 homers and 24 RBIs in 15 games against them.

On the season, Davis is hitting .252 with 40 homers and 99 RBIs.

Rangers to party: The Rangers can clinch the division title Friday if both Houston and Seattle lose - or if Texas beats the A’s.

“The last thing you want to see is it happen on the field when they beat you,” manager Bob Melvin said.

The Rangers clinched a division title once before in Oakland: Sept. 25, 2010.

Shelved: Arismendy Alcantara of the A's won't play again this season after spraining his thumb on a slide Wednesday.

Sonny Gray will throw to hitters Saturday. If all goes well, he could be assigned to pitch in a game.

Rangers lineup: LF Gomez, CF Desmond, DH Beltran, 3B Beltre, 2B Odor, C Lucroy, 1B Moreland, RF Mazara, SS Andrus. LH Hamels on the hill.

A’s lineup: SS Semien, CF Eibner, 3B Healy, LF Davis, 1B Valencia, C Vogt, RF Smolinski, DH Nunez, 2B Pinder. RH Graveman on the hill.