The Minnesota Twins are in contention to win their division this season.
Luckily, their division is the AL Central.
Entering Wednesday, Minnesota sat atop the division but the Twins would actually be fighting to stay out of the cellar if they played in the more competitive AL East.
On Thursday, Minnesota faces division rival Detroit with Sonny Gray (4-1, 2.25 ERA) on the mound.
The Tigers counter with Matthew Boyd (3-5, 5.55 ERA).
Twins vs. Tigers pick
(7:10 p.m. Eastern)
Gray has been sensational over the first half of the season.
The former Yankee has allowed three runs or fewer in all 13 starts and held opponents to one run or less eight times.
You would think the Twins are benefiting from Gray’s strong outings but that hasn’t been the case recently.
Minnesota is 2-5 in his last seven starts while averaging just 2.6 runs in the five losses.
Boyd has been up and down in his 12 starts, allowing three runs or fewer eight times but getting blasted for at least five runs in his four other appearances.
Boyd also has suffered from a lack of run support. Detroit has scored a total of two runs in his last three starts.
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The Tigers have been atrocious away from home, holding the AL’s second-worst road record entering Wednesday.
Gray has been a hard-luck pitcher this season with the lack of run support but with Detroit’s issues scoring away from home, the Twins should do enough offensively to get the win.
Twins vs. Tigers prediction
The play: Twins (-180, BetRivers)