"The collapse is coming" - Jonathan Papelbon predicts tough times ahead of Yankees if major injury crisis kicks in 

The New York Yankees turned out to be the best team in the MLB almost halfway through the season. The Yanks dropped their last series but still hold the best record (50-24). Given their pace, the Bronx Bombers could be heading to the postseason with ease.

While everything seems to be going smoothly, the team has not experienced any injuries with crucial players. Gerrit Cole was the first big name to go down with an injury. However, Cole has not pitched this season and the Yanks have done fairly well in his absence.

Former All-Star MLB pitcher Jonathan Papelbon believes that the team is living a fairytale right now, without crucial injuries. Papelbon thinks that there are tough times ahead for the Yanks when injury kicks in.

"Anytime you can kick the Yankees a** to do it. Yankees are living a fairytale right now. Luckily haven't had any big injuries. The collapse is coming when they have to battle injuries and pitching averages back out in the end of the season when pitching matters the most," Papelbon said.

While Papelbon might have a point, nothing is certain when it comes to injuries. Baseball injuries are unpredictable, and there is no definite answer to it. Yet, the Yanks can't risk having any of their top players injured, especially with their pitching lineup.

The Yanks lead the MLB with a 3.02 team ERA. With 627 strikeouts, their pitchers have played a crucial role. It's important for the team to have their pitchers healthy, especially Luis Gil, Marcus Stroman, and Nestors Cortes Jr.

Yankees star Anthony Rizzo goes down with injury

Yankees star Anthony Rizzo was forced to exit the game against the Red Sox due to an injury. Rizzo collided with Red Sox pitcher Brennan Bernardino while running to reach first base in the seventh inning.

Rizzo fell hard on his right arm and he struggled with pain. Last month, starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt was also placed on the injured list. The good news is that the team's ace, Gerrit Cole, is expected to return soon.

Aaron Judge's injury last year had cost the Yanks significantly. The Bronx Bombers will need to be careful with injuries throughout the regular season.