From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser

Oakland third baseman Josh Donaldson was leading the All-Star voting at third base when totals were announced today – and last year’s American League All-Star third baseman, Miguel Cabrera, told me he believes Donaldson should be on this year’s team.

“Josh Donaldson is great, he deserves it,” Cabrera said. “He’s been consistent for two years. He’s done what it takes to make the team – and I hope he will.”

Cabrera was the league’s MVP last year (for the second year in a row), and Donaldson finished fourth in the voting. “He can change games with his bat and with his defense – he’s become one of the best third basemen in the game.” Cabrera told me. “He’s made a difference for this team. He’s an exciting player to watch, too. He comes to play every day and he plays with a lot of passion.”

One reason Donaldson is leading the voting: Cabrera is now back at first base with Prince Fielder getting traded to Texas.

“That gives everyone else an opportunity,” Donaldson said.

Donaldson said that for him, the most important thing when it comes to the All-Star Game is getting an A’s position player on the squad. The A’s haven’t had a position player on the AL All-Star team since catcher Ramon Hernandez in 2003, and they haven’t had a position player voted onto the team by fans since Jason Giambi in 2000.

“Everyone knows about our pitching, so I’m not going to talk about them,” said Donaldson, who called Brandon Moss just as deserving as himself. “We need to get a position player in there.”

Only pitchers have made it since Hernandez’s appearance, but Donaldson was considered a top candidate last year, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland, the AL skipper, went so far as to discuss how much Donaldson had deserved it last year, saying that he was “short-changed.” A’s manager Bob Melvin called Donaldson’s snub last year disappointing.

Moss, fifth at the DH spot (though he is primarily a first baseman), said he doesn’t believe he’ll make the All-Star team, but he said, “J.D. is right where he should be. I can’t think of a third baseman, AL or NL, who’s having a better year.”

Catcher Derek Norris is third in voting at his position behind Matt Wieters of the Orioles and Brian McCann of the Yankees.

John Jaso is back in Oakland’s lineup after being unavailable for a few days with back tightness. Norris, who hit a grand slam yesterday, is out, but as Melvin noted, Norris has been working very hard lately with no breaks. He’ll be back in tomorrow.

Here’s the lineup: Crisp CF, Jaso C, Donaldson 3B, Moss 1B, Cespedes LF, Lowrie SS, Reddick RF, Callaspo DH, Sogard 2B.

The matchup is sensational: AL ERA leader Sonny Gray vs. reigning Cy Young winner Max Scherzer.

Ryan Cook threw a 22-pitch bullpen session today, he threw all his pitches and Melvin said he went all out with his slider – a terrific sign for someone who is on the DL with a forearm strain. Initially, there was some trepidation about potential Tommy John surgery, but Cook’s ability to go max effort with his slider is an indication he’s A-OK.

“I feel as good as I could be,” he said. “I felt confident enough in my arm that it was like a regular bullpen session – that’s good to know. And the way I was able to throw my pitches was even more encouraging. It’s not up to me and I’ll be happy to do whatever they want me to do but I feel like I could pitch right now. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but today was very encouraging.”

Cook will have another bullpen session Thursday and could go on a short rehab assignment soon. No decisions have been made yet, but Melvin suggested it could be as quick as one game.

Nick Punto (calf) is likely to be available on the bench tonight.