Tigers vs. Twins prediction and odds for Thursday, June 15 (Can Boyd shutdown Minnesota lineup)

The Detroit Tigers start a weekend series against the Minnesota Twins in hopes of chipping away at the team's AL Central deficit.

The Twins have gotten fantastic starting pitching this season, and Sonny Gray has been part of it, posting a 2.25 ERA so far this season, but is this shaping up to be a good matchup for left hander Matthew Boyd?

Let's check out the odds for Thursday's series opener:

Tigers vs. Twins odds, run line and total

Tigers vs. Twins prediction and pick

Boyd has struggled this season, but there's some cause for optimism heading into a road start on Thursday night. He has a 5.55 ERA, but his FIP and xERA number are far lower (4.70 and 4.18, respectively). The left hander has had some poor variance in the field, but he should be able to keep down the Twins lineup that is 24th in batting average against left handers.

However, Detroit will also have a tough time at the plate. The team is facing Gray, who is having one of the best seasons of his career, going at least five innings in all but one start this season and hasn't allowed more than three earned runs. He also gets to face one of the most lackluster lineups in baseball, hitting just .216 in the month of June and scoring the second fewest runs to this point.

This is setting up to be a pitcher's duel on Thursday to start this weekend series.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.