Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer was placed on the 15-day injured list with back spasms just hours before his scheduled start on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

As noted by Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, Chad Dallas has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.

It's been a miserable season for Scherzer, who has been on the injured list already and has struggled mightily when he's been healthy. He's 1-4 with a 10.23 ERA and has posted a WHIP of 1.727. 

There has been one nice moment though: Scherzer recorded his 3500th career strikeout in his last start against the Philadelphia Phillies. He's one of only 11 pitchers in baseball history to hit that milestone. 

Dallas, 25, made one appearance for Toronto earlier this season, earning the win by tossing 3.2 solid innings. He gave up only earned run and struck out two in that appearance.

He was a fourth-round pick of the Jays in 2021 out of Tennessee. 

That's really the question. Given his lack of production - and the injuries - can the Blue Jays afford to keep him in the rotation even when he's healthy?

Right now, the group is using Trey Yesavage, Kevin Gausman, Patrick Corbin and Dylan Cease as fixtures in the rotation, with Shane Bieber set to return as well. Once Bieber comes back, the discussion will be about if Scherzer can really force out Corbin, who has pitched sufficiently.

Corbin has gone 2-3 with a 4.57 ERA in 13 starts.

A 19-year veteran of the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Blue Jays, Scherzer is one of the best pitchers of the 2000s. He's gone 222-121 for his career with a 3.27 ERA, winning three Cy Young Awards and two World Series titles. He's an eight-time All-Star as well.

He's an excellent clubhouse presence who the Jays clearly would love to have around, but his pitching will ultimately dictate that.

Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, he's a no-doubt Hall of Famer when his career ends.

Dallas and the Blue Jays will take on the Red Sox at 6:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Jake Bennett, a rookie left-hander, will get the ball for Boston.

The Blue Jays won 6-1 on Tuesday to improve to 35-38 on the campaign. They are one game back of the third and final wild card spot.

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