TORONTO — When Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch changed his mind and benched Miguel Cabrera in Baltimore eight days ago, he did so to give the fans at Comerica Park the best chance to watch their superstar reach 500 home runs.
Cabrera smashed No. 499 on Aug. 11, followed by a day off during the series finale at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. He returned to Detroit on Aug. 13 for a six-game homestand with Cleveland and the Los Angeles Angels. There were two near-home runs — a foul ball Saturday and a flyout to the back of the warning track Wednesday — but none of his 24 plate appearances at Comerica Park resulted in No.