Stephen Nover

Both young starting pitchers, Connor Prielipp of Minnesota and Payton Tolle of Boston, have shown good potential. But they are going to have ups and downs.

So I find this total too low factoring in the ballpark, wind and Minnesota's terrible bullpen.

The Twins have scored the ninth most runs. Byron Buxton is one of the most dangerous leadoff hitters in baseball.

Fenway Park is a hitter's park and the wind will be blowing out to left at 8-to-10 mph.

The Red Sox should get their share of runs against Prielipp, whose 2.88 ERA is negated by his 4.19 fielding independent, 1.4 home runs and 3.2 walks allowed per nine innings.

The Twins certainly can't count on a bullpen that has the third highest ERA at 5.00. 

In the bizarre world of scheduling WNBA games, Atlanta finds itself playing for the first time since Sunday hosting Dallas.

The Wings find themselves in a massive situational disadvantage. This is the third time they will be in action in the last five days. Dallas defeated the Sky, 99-89, in Chicago this past Wednesday.

Dallas and Atlanta have already met. The Dream defeated the Wings, 77-72, as 1 1/2-point road favorites 10 days ago.

Atlanta is the superior team and the spot sets up well for the Dream. The 2-1 Dream are off their first loss of the season, 85-84, at home to the defending champion Aces. Las Vegas pulled the game out with 3.6 seconds to play on a fadeaway jumper by Chelsea Gray.

The Dream are anxious to play again having had ample rest and preparation time. They have the league's third highest scorer in Allisha Gray, who scores 25 points a game, and will get back their second best scorer, Rhyne Howard. She missed the Las Vegas game because of a concussion. But she is cleared to play in this game. 

Colorado has been the best team in hockey this season. An upset home lost to the Golden Knights in Game 1 of this Western Conference Final doesn't change my mind.

Credit to the Golden Knights. But the Avalanche had not played in a week and the rust showed. They played well beneath their capabilities.

Expect the Avalanche to play up to their capabilities in this Game 2 knowing another home loss would put them in dire circumstances. I don't expect that to happen. It has been 25 games since the Avalanche lost consecutive games.

The Avalanche were 5-0 at home in the playoffs until losing to Las Vegas, 4-2, this past Wednesday. Only once in their previous nine playoff games have the Avalanche tasted defeat. That came against the Wild. Colorado won by three goals in the next game and that came on the road.

Star defenseman Cale Makar is out for Colorado. However, the Golden Knights are missing their injured captain Mark Stone. So these important injuries even out.