The Miami Marlins had a sensational 20-6 record in June, and observers started to overdose on midseason optimism and talk about a possible postseason berth.

Then the Marlins received a huge reality check by starting July with two consecutive setbacks to the Colorado Rockies.

The Marlins will look to get back on the winning track when they face the Athletics on Friday night at West Sacramento, Calif.

Miami was outscored 20-7 while losing the final two contests of a four-game series with the host Rockies. Thursday’s finale saw the Rockies rout the Marlins 14-4.

Miami won 10 of 12 games before the last two losses, and the franchise has made just two postseason appearances (2020, 2023) since winning the 2003 World Series.

Manager Clayton McCullough said he understands why the playoff chatter has increased, but he also knew a 10-run loss marked the right time to deliver a message.

“We can all get caught up in what could happen months from now,” McCullough said. “Again, it’s months from now. We need to go into a new series and get as best prepared as we can for the A’s and try to win a series.

“All our focus needs to be on and should be on us. All the other discussions don’t matter right now. It’s about playing good baseball and trying to win a series.”

After being shellacked in Denver, the Marlins will find themselves in another great hitter’s ballpark for the three-game set in West Sacramento.

“Sacramento, you can really hit (there),” McCullough said. “It will be trying to limit damage, limit the big inning.”

Miami’s Otto Lopez had a homer among three hits on Thursday to raise his major-league-best average to .336.

The Athletics, meanwhile, just lost two of three home games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wednesday’s 7-1 victory was just the third in the past 11 games overall for the A’s.

Shea Langeliers belted his 20th homer of the season — his fourth straight season of hitting at least 20. He leads American League catchers in homers and hits (87).

“For everyone out there that feels like Shea needs to be doing more, that’s a great reminder for all those,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “He’s got 20 right now before the break. He’s been the catalyst of our offense since April, and it’s hard as a catcher to sustain the performance he put on in April. He’s done a great job. …

“The main goal is to keep Shea healthy and get him to the All-Star Game, which, I’m pretty confident that he’s going to be that guy.”

The A’s have been hit hard by injuries, with shortstop Jacob Wilson (right thumb), infielder Zack Gelof (right hand) and left fielder Tyler Soderstrom (left hip) on the injured list.

In addition, designated hitter Brent Rooker (left knee) soon will undergo season-ending surgery.

“This is a big blow,” Kotsay said. “It’s a middle-of-the-order bat. It’s a guy that produced for us offensively for the last three seasons with 30-plus homers.”

The Athletics will start Jack Perkins (2-3, 6.00 ERA) against Miami’s Tyler Phillips (1-3, 3.02) in a battle of right-handers on Friday.

Perkins, 26, has received four straight no-decisions since losing to the Houston Astros on June 5. On Saturday, he gave up two runs and four hits over five innings against the Los Angeles Angels. The A’s lost 5-2.

This will be Perkins’ first career outing against Miami.

Phillips, 28, is 0-2 over his last three turns. He lost 2-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday when he gave up two runs and six hits over 7 1/3 innings.

Phillips is 1-0 with a 4.00 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the A’s. Langeliers is 1-for-4 against Phillips.

–Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Dodgers intend to have a bonding moment wrapped up inside a baseball game when they host the San Diego Padres on Friday.

The Dodgers are set to send right-hander Shohei Ohtani to the mound, while Dalton Rushing will be his catcher.

Ohtani (8-2, 1.58 ERA) will be pitching with eight days of rest between starts, more to manage his season workload than because he had trouble getting on the same page with Rushing behind the plate June 24 at Minnesota. Ohtani and the Dodgers won 4-3 that day.

The issues in the outing became troublesome enough that Ohtani took over calling pitches at one point, with manager Dave Roberts having a heart-to-heart discussion with Rushing in the dugout between innings.

Will Smith typically catches Ohtani, but he has been on the injured list since early June with neck inflammation. Roberts will return to the Ohtani-Rushing partnership again instead of using current backup catcher Chuckie Robinson.

“I think that they will be (in sync) more than they were his last start,” Roberts said Thursday. “They don’t think the same, so it takes time. But again, I think Dalton understands that is what he signed up for. The job of a catcher is to be a servant to the pitcher. That’s the bottom line. So it’s Dalton’s job to get on page with whatever pitcher. I expect that all to be resolved.”

Ohtani also is expected to be in the lineup as a hitter.

In three career starts against San Diego, Ohtani is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA. The win came May 20 at San Diego when he pitched five scoreless innings in a 4-0 win for Los Angeles.

He is 6-1 overall in his past eight outings.

The Padres hope to end a six-game losing streak when they send right-hander Michael King (5-7, 3.55) to the mound. King’s most recent start came Sunday when he faced the Dodgers at home and gave up four runs on three hits with four walks over 4 1/3 innings. He took the loss in the 4-2 game.

In seven career appearances (five starts) against Los Angeles, King is 3-1 with a 2.94 ERA.

The Padres won the opener of a home series against the Dodgers last weekend but have now matched their longest losing streak of the season. The latest loss came after the Padres led 6-0 as the Dodgers rebounded with 12 consecutive runs in a 12-7 victory.

Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth all hit home runs in the first two innings for San Diego. Los Angeles received four hits each from Rushing and Kyle Tucker as they both tied career highs. Rushing also matched his career high with four RBIs.

The Padres’ bad news did not end there. They lost catcher Freddy Fermin in the fifth inning after he was hit in the mask by a foul ball. Before the game, right-handed reliever Jason Adam (shoulder) was placed on the injured list, while right-hander German Marquez was activated.

“Felt like the safest thing was to put him on the IL, call German up,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “So hopefully Jason’s injury isn’t too long, and that we just give him a little breather, and then he can be back helping our bullpen again.”

–Field Level Media

The Las Vegas Aces just beat the Chicago Sky in the Windy City six days ago. Now the scene turns to Sin City as the two clubs go at it again on Friday night.

Aces star A’ja Wilson is listed as questionable due to an ankle injury. That would be an equalizer in terms of the talent difference if the four-time MVP isn’t on the floor.

The Minnesota Lynx visit the New York Liberty in Friday’s lone other contest. The Liberty are feeling pretty good after beating Las Vegas in the Commissioner’s Cup title game on Tuesday.

CHICAGO SKY AT LAS VEGAS ACES

Wilson excelled when Las Vegas posted a 107-99 win over Chicago on Sunday as she piled up 30 points, 15 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots. That stat line never previously occurred in WNBA history. Take all that production out of the lineup and the Sky (6-13) might have a chance at the upset.

If Wilson is sidelined, Jackie Young will take over as the prime scorer and she had 28 points, eight assists and five rebounds against the Sky. She followed up with 31 points and seven assists in the loss to New York and has scored 20 points in five of the past six games. She had 19 in the other for the Aces (14-5).

Chicago has seen recent improvement from center Kamilla Cardoso, who has made 23 of 28 shots (82.1%) over the past two games. Cardoso was a record 13-of-13 shooting while scoring a career-best 30 points in a victory over the Portland Fire on June 26 before having 24 on 10-of-15 shooting against Las Vegas.

Azura Stevens fared well against the Aces with 24 points and six rebounds. The Sky recently won consecutive games against the expansion Fire after losing 11 of their previous 12. Wilson or not, Chicago isn’t hitting on a winner in Las Vegas.

Aces minus 9.5 points spread, -105 (DraftKings)

MINNESOTA LYNX AT NEW YORK LIBERTY

Minnesota (15-4) owns the best record in the WNBA, which is borderline amazing considering two-time MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier (surgery on both ankles) hasn’t played yet this season. You would think the Lynx would have four or five fewer victories without their star attraction.

One reason why Minnesota is thriving is that rookie point guard Olivia Miles is starring right out of the box and is averaging 18.7 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals. Someday, they will be asking how was Miles only the No. 2 pick in the draft. Dallas chose Azzi Fudd, a close associate of Paige Bueckers, instead of somebody who appears to be a lot better player.

New York (12-8) had lost four of five games before winning the Commissioner’s Cup (which doesn’t count in the standings) and perhaps the win will awaken the team from its slumber. Sabrina Ionescu’s presence certainly did against Las Vegas as she had season bests of 26 points and five 3-pointers. She has missed time with foot and back injuries this season.

Breanna Stewart had 25 points and 11 rebounds against the Aces and she might have increased operating room with Collier not on the floor. Still, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve just continues to figure out a way to silence opponents.

Lynx minus 2.5 points spread, -102 (DraftKings)