Yankees fans reeling about 2024 World Series vs Dodgers after multiple huge injuries

The Dodgers have been hit by a slew of early injuries already, losing multiple bullpen arms to holdover issues or new ones. Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, Brusdar Graterol, Edgardo Henriquez, and Michael Grove will all begin the season on the IL, and Grove will be out for the entire season after undergoing a labrum surgery this weekend.

It's far from ideal, but the silver lining is that none of these absences are completely devastating to the roster.

The same can't be said about the Yankees, who were hit by two massive injury updates in quick succession. Gerrit Cole underwent diagnostic tests on his throwing elbow Friday following a spring training start when he gave up six earned runs. A few days later, it was reported Tommy John had been recommended by one doctor, but Cole and the Yankees were still searching for second opinions.

At the same time, Giancarlo Stanton underwent testing on his elbows before coming back to camp to tell reporters that injuries in both looks "severe" and that surgery, if needed, would end his sseason.

This is, of course, after the Yankees suffered a brutal exit from the World Series at the Dodgers' hands. If Cole is out for the season and Stanton's future is murky, that could spell the end of their hopes for a return to the Fall Classic this year.

Yankees further devastated after losing 2024 World Series to Dodgers following Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton injuries

Stanton has always been breakable; he's only played in only about 50% of games from 2019-2024 and was even called out by Yankees GM Brian Cashman back in 2023, when he said Stanton was "going to wind up getting hurt again, more likely than not, because it seems to be part of his game." That sent Yankees world into a tizzy at the time, which makes sense since it's not really representative of a GM to create a divide between a team and a player like that, but Cashman wasn't really wrong.

Cole has managed to evade Tommy John throughout his entire career, but he pitched fewer than 100 innings last year while dealing with elbow inflammation until mid-June, so it's not altogether surprising that seems to be creeping back up on him.

The Yankees also lost AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil just a few days before Cole, bringing their rotation down to Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Marcus Stroman. If Cole does end up having to undergo Tommy John, then the Dodgers shouldn't be afraid about seeing them in the World Series again this October ... but we know they were never really worrying about the Yankees after the way they savaged New York after the 2024 result.