Scherzer, 41, has a brutal 9.24 earned run average through five starts this season, giving up a total of 16 runs in his last three starts alone.
The team called up right-hander Chase Lee to take Scherzer's roster spot. Lee, 26, made his MLB debut last season for the Tigers, tossing a 4.10 ERA in 17 games of relief pitching.
This season in Triple-A, Lee is tossing a fantastic 1.32 ERA through 13.2 innings of work, giving up just two earned runs on 11 hits with 12 strikeouts and nine walks.
He had previously left his start on April 6th against the Los Angeles Dodgers with forearm issues after giving up eight runs on six hits in 2.1 innings.
Scherzer signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Blue Jays after being part of their World Series squad last season, which didn't fare much better. He tossed a career-worst 5.19 ERA in 17 starts.
It was the first time since 2011 that Scherzer finished a single season with an ERA above 4.00.
The future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young Award winner is just one of a long list of injury problems the Blue Jays have faced this season, especially with pitching.
Starting pitcher Trey Yasavage is about to come off his 15-day IL stint, while fellow SP Jose Berrios is still continuing rehab assignments in the minors following his time on the 15-day IL.
Meanwhile, Yimi Garcia, who was placed on the 60-day IL, will begin to throw batting practice this week. Other starting pitcher Cody Ponce was ruled out for the 2025 season after tearing his ACL trying to play an infield hit.
Ponce had just recently made his first appearance in the MLB since 2021.
Other players on the IL for the Blue Jays include starting pitcher Shane Bieber (60-day), outfielder Anthony Santander (60-day), infielder George Springer (10-day), catcher Alejandro Kirk (10-day), outfielder Nathan Lukes (10-day), and third baseman Addison Barger (10-day).
Toronto are currently fourth place out of five in the American League East division with a 12-15 record heading into Monday's matchup against the Boston Red Sox (11-17), who rank last in the same division.