AP photo Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera stands in the dugout during a game against the Baltimore Orioles, Thursday in Baltimore. Cabrera did not play in the game.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Miguel Cabrera is heading back to Detroit for what should be the Tigers’ most anticipated homestand in a while.

One homer shy of 500, Cabrera sat out the last game of Detroit’s trip Thursday, and the Tigers did fine without him, beating Baltimore 6-4 to complete a three-game sweep.

“I’m hoping he proves us right — to hit it at home in front of our fans, and hit it in a win,” manager A.J. Hinch said before the game.

Cabrera hit homer No. 499 on Wednesday night, and afterward Hinch said the 38-year-old slugger would play Thursday as well. But Hinch changed course and left Cabrera out of the lineup, citing the heat and the fact that rain delays had made for some long nights at the ballpark earlier in the series.

The temperature at game time Thursday was 97 degrees.

Detroit begins a three-game series at home against Cleveland on Friday night, then hosts the Angels for three games next week.

Renato Nunez homered in his return to Baltimore, and Victor Reyes and Robbie Grossman also went deep for Detroit. The Orioles have lost eight in a row.

“It feels amazing,” Nunez said. “It was such a great game.”

The Tigers, who started 9-24, are now percentage points ahead of Cleveland for second place in the AL Central.