#STATEtoTheShow: Postseason Edition

When the 2021 MLB Postseason commences on Tuesday night, Mississippi State will be well-represented once again with four former State standouts taking to diamond this October.

The Diamond Dawgs will have Hunter Renfroe (Boston) and Dakota Hudson (St. Louis) leading off the postseason in Wild Card games on Tuesday (Oct. 5) and Wednesday (Oct. 6). Later this week, Kendall Graveman (Houston) and Brandon Woodruff (Milwaukee) will compete in their respective American and National League Divisional Series.

Kendall Graveman | Houston Astros

For the first time in his professional career, former MSU standout Kendall Graveman will have the opportunity to pitch in the MLB playoffs. On July 27, Graveman was traded to the Houston Astros by the Mariners, giving the Bulldog alum his first taste of the postseason this October.

In 2021, Graveman compiled a 5-1 record on the mound with a 1.77 ERA in 53 relief appearances. He tallied 10 saves in 15 save opportunities in 56 innings of work, while striking out 61 and posting a WHIP of 0.98. The former 8th-round draft pick held opposing hitters to a .180 clip at the dish over the course of the 2021 season.

2021 Regular Season Stats
5-1 W-L Record, 1.77 ERA, 53-0 GP-GS, 10 SV, 15 SVO, 11 HLDS, 56.0 IP, 35 H, 15 R, 11 ER, 3 HR, 8 HBP, 20 BB, 61 SO, 0.98 WHIP, .180 AVG

Next up: Graveman's Astros will take on the Chicago White Sox in the 5-game American League Divisional Series starting on Oct. 7 in Houston. First pitch for the series opener is set for 3:07 p.m. CT on FS1.

Dakota Hudson | St. Louis Cardinals

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in September of last year, Dakota Hudson has had a long road to recovery that culminated with his first two appearances on the mound for the Cardinals to close out the regular season.

On Sept. 24, Hudson picked up the win after pitching 3.2 innings of relief in what was his first appearance in over a year. One week later, he made his first start for the Cardinals, getting a no-decision after pitching five shutout innings in a 4-3 walk-off win over the Cubs.

In two appearances, Hudson posted a 1-0 record and 2.08 ERA in 8.2 innings of work. He struck out six batters and issued just one walk while posting a 0.92 WHIP in his return from injury.

2021 Regular Season Stats
1-0 W-L Record, 2.08 ERA, 2-1 GP-GS, 8.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 1 BB, 6 SO, 0.92 WHIP, .219 AVG

Next up: Hudson and the Cards will face off against the Dodgers in the NL Wild Card on Oct. 6 in Los Angeles. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. CT on TBS.

Hunter Renfroe | Boston Red Sox

Hunter Renfroe's career has experienced a jolt since signing a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox last offseason.

The Red Sox claimed an AL Wild Card spot thanks to the production of Renfroe, who is hitting .259 with 31 homers, 96 RBIs, and an .816 OPS. As an everyday starter in 2021, Renfroe has set career highs in virtually every offensive category except for home runs (he is two homers shy of tying his season-high mark).

Renfroe delivered one of the biggest hits of the year last Friday, a three-run homer that broke a scoreless tie in the sixth and led the Red Sox to a 4-2 win over the Nationals to give Boston control of its own playoff destiny.

2021 Regular Season Stats
.259 AVG, .315 OBP, .501 SLG, .816 OPS, 521 AB, 135 H, 89 R, 33-2B, 31 HR, 96 RBI, 44 BB, 130 SO

Next up: Renfroe and the Red Sox will be matched with the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card game, which is set for Oct. 5 in Boston. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Brandon Woodruff | Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers' Brandon Woodruff is part of a Milwaukee pitching rotation that set just about every franchise record during the 2021 campaign. As for Woodruff himself, he set 10 MLB and Franchise records with his 2021 performance on the bump. One of those franchise records set was Woodruff holding opposing hitters to the lowest batting average (.200) in a single season. Woodruff started 30 games for Milwaukee and finished in the top five in baseball for ERA (2.56).

Woodruff's win-loss record (9-10) was hampered by lack of run support at times, but his 2.56 ERA in 30 starts ranked fourth in baseball. He struck out 211 batters in 179.1 innings and posted a WHIP of 0.96 during the 2021 season.

2021 Regular Season Stats
9-10 W-L Record, 2.56 ERA (4th in MLB), 30-30 GP-GS, 179.1 IP, 130 H, 54 R, 51 ER, 18 HR, 7 HBP, 43 BB, 211 SO, 0.96 WHIP, .200 AVG

Next up: Woodruff will see the mound for Milwaukee versus the Braves in the National League Divisional Series, which begins on Oct. 8 with the first of the five-game set. First pitch between the Brewers and Braves is slated for 3:37 p.m. CT on TBS.

2021 MLB Postseason Schedule

AL Wild Card
Oct. 5             New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox            7:08 p.m. CT    ESPN

NL Wild Card
Oct. 6             St. Louis Cardinals @ Los Angeles Dodgers    7:10 p.m. CT    TBS

ALDS – Game 1
Oct. 7             Chicago White Sox @ Houston Astros           3:07 p.m. CT    FS1

NLDS – Game 1
Oct. 8              Atlanta Braves @ Milwaukee Brewers           3:37 p.m. CT    TBS

Mississippi State University Athletics

#STATEtoTheShow: Postseason Edition

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