For almost two decades, Yadier Molina helped set the tone in St. Louis with his leadership, knowledge of the game, team ethic and commitment to getting the most out of the Cardinals’ pitching staffs. His nine Gold Gloves as a catcher are the third most in MLB history. Molina also contributed 2,168 hits and 1,022 RBIs on the way to 10 All-Star Games. We salute him for his achievements and wish him all the best in his retirement!

Based on their scheduled opponents and travel schedule, April was always going to be a grind for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Still, finishing the first month of the season with a 14-16 record was disappointing.

The Cardinals have been held afloat by solid pitching and sturdy defense, but a floundering offense has cost them.

That theme carried into the first day of May, as St. Louis fell 4-1 in its rubber match with the Detroit Tigers, marking the 19th time the Cardinals scored three runs or fewer this season.

It’s been a frustrating development for a team with far more concern over its pitching entering the season.

The Cardinals wanted a top-of-the-rotation arm to headline their pitching staff, and they sure seem to have gotten that with Gray.

Late start to the season aside, Gray has been everything St. Louis could have dreamed of. He’s 3-1 with a 1.16 ERA and a 12.3 strikeout-per-nine-inning ratio — good for a strikeout percentage of 36 percent.

He’s walked just four batters in 23 1/3 innings and surrendered one home run.

Gray has been a key element in upgrading a lacking rotation.

Gray, Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn (the other offseason starting pitching additions) registered a combined 2.74 ERA in April and posted eight quality starts.

Nearly everything about Gray has been exciting, ranging from how he commands his arsenal on the mound to how he commands the clubhouse off of it.

The most encouraging element of his April, however, is that he’s shown no indications of the hamstring strain he suffered in spring training.

He looks every bit the part of the Cardinals ace. Last year, Gray finished as runner-up in American League Cy Young voting and was an All-Star for the Minnesota Twins.

If he keeps this up, he’ll notch back-to-back All-Star honors for the first time in his career.