Max Scherzer Placed on Injured List With Back Spasms, Leaving Club to Use a Bullpen Day

Max Scherzer’s latest health setback turned a scheduled start into an immediate bullpen assignment. According to Yahoo Sports, Scherzer was scratched from that day’s game after experiencing back spasms, and the right-hander was subsequently placed on the injured list.

The procedural impact is clear even without innings totals or matchup details. An IL stint in MLB is typically managed in blocks, and the report states Scherzer is expected to be out for 15 days at minimum. That removes one of the club’s most prominent arms from both the near-term rotation plan and the broader, month-to-month pitching inventory.

With Scherzer unavailable, the team faced a short-term workload question that bullpen days always bring into focus. When a starter is pulled close to game time or replaced, the bullpen absorbs extra outs, and late-inning roles can shift for the rest of the game and potentially ripple into the following slate.

Yahoo Sports also reported that Chad Dallas is back on the roster. That matters because roster moves of this type are usually designed to keep pitching options available while the active rotation is adjusted. Dallas’ return indicates the club needed an immediate depth piece to replace the innings lost with Scherzer’s scratch.

For Scherzer specifically, the nature of the problem adds a layer of uncertainty. Back spasms are not the same as a one-time, clearly bounded issue, and teams generally prefer caution when stiffness affects comfort and mechanics. While the report does not provide specifics beyond the diagnosis and IL placement, the practical takeaway is that the team will likely prioritize symptom management over short-term heroics.

The next watch item is the club’s rebalancing of its pitching staff across the IL window. A 15-day absence is long enough to require at least one rotation adjustment, and short enough that managers may keep flexibility depending on how quickly the club believes the situation can stabilize. Bullpen utilization during the immediate game is one indicator, but it is not the only one, since teams also consider rest patterns for the following days.

There is also a roster and performance angle for Dallas. Being recalled or activated in the wake of a notable IL move can elevate expectations for readiness, even if the exact role is not specified. Whether he appears as a bridge arm, a longer relief look, or a matchup-driven option, the club’s use of Dallas in this moment will likely influence how quickly he settles into the regular pitching rhythm while Scherzer is sidelined.