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MIAMI — Fresh off a sweep of the Astros in Houston, the Cardinals visit the Marlins with a tailwind of five consecutive wins and a fast start to their rebuild season. Does their early success suggest they'll outperform expectations in 2026, and if so should they accelerate their rebuild plans?

That's the question that begins a conversation between 101 ESPN/WXOS host Brandon Kiley, of "BK and Ferrario" and the Redbird Report, and Best Podcast in Baseball host and baseball writer Derrick Goold.

MIAMI — There’s a path not taken in Monday’s game where a sharp grounder doesn’t hug the line for a double or a starter’s breaking ball isn’t as wily, and any number of the little things the Cardinals did well becomes a bigger part of a story like this one.

Jordan Walker turned alert base running into two runs for the Cardinals, and the Cardinals defense, including a throw from Walker, reduced Miami’s offense with outs at third and home. Masyn Winn went first to third on a wild pitch that gave the Cardinals an invitation to take the lead.

MIAMI — There would be no comeback this time, no scrappy retort to yank the Cardinals back into the game like so many before in this opening month of the season, no extra innings to continue their April excellence after the ninth.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ would give themselves chances.

MIAMI — On the ride late Saturday night leaving Houston’s ballpark, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol presented a scenario to several of his coaches: They had a two-run lead in the ninth, but the Astros had two runners on, first base open and Yordan Alvarez, the slugger who had worn them out all weekend, at the plate.

What to do?

The Mariners placed third baseman Brendan Donovan on the injured list Monday afternoon with a left groin strain, one of three roster moves that are most intriguing because of the one move that wasn’t made.

Top prospect Colt Emerson, a much-hyped 20-year-old infielder, will remain in Triple-A Tacoma, for now. Emerson, it turns out, has been dealing with a sore wrist, and that was a factor in the Mariners’ decision not to promote him right now.

HOUSTON — A spark for the Cardinals lineup Saturday with a home run that launched them to a lead and a key contributor Friday with a two-out hit that kept the offense moving, Masyn Winn put the finishing touches on a weekend back home in Houston with two pivotal at-bats Sunday.

His first hit opened a four-run inning. His last one provided the runs needed for a 7-5 extra-innings over the Astros at Daikin Park.