TORONTO — Max Scherzer walked into manager John Schneider’s office at Wrigley Field in June. The meetings between the 42-year-old pitcher and his 46-year-old manager are a near-daily occurrence. They aren’t scheduled, but they might as well be. For Schneider, this one stuck out.Scherzer had made six starts to that point, with a 10.23 ERA. He’d just given up five runs to the Philadelphia Phillies and was placed on the injured list for the second time, with back spasms. Scherzer was frustrated, but he wasn’t quitting.“He actually came in and was kind of venting to me a little bit,” Schneider recalled. “He said, ‘I still want this. I’m still in the fight.’”On Sunday, in front of 42,039 buzzing fans, Scherzer showed why. In a sweep-sealing, 7-0 win over the Seattle Mariners, the veteran delivered seven shutout innings, striking out 10. It was his best start as a Toronto Blue Jay, his best in three years. It was the sort of start he knew was still in his well-worn arm, even if others doubted it, and a performance that kept Toronto’s playoff hopes more than just a wild wish.Baseball’s Most Baffling BlunderJoe Crisalli“It was kind of like popping in a time machine a little bit,” Schneider said. “You don’t really see that from a 42-year-old.”All year, through IL stints and sideways starts, Scherzer remained adamant in his ability. He’s battled an ailing back, thumb, ankle and probably other physical setbacks that were never made public. But, Scherzer said, when he’s healthy, he can still pitch. Like an old car that still drives smoothly even if it needs regular repairs, Scherzer proved it Sunday.