Royals 3, Tigers 1

A fan holds up a sign during a special pregame ceremony celebrating Miguel Cabrera and his journey to 500 home run.

Former Tigers manager and now special assistant to the general manager Jim Leyland speaks during a special pregame ceremony celebrating Miguel Cabrera and his journey to 500 home run.

Tigers’ Jonathan Schoop reacts after being hit by a pitch in the first inning. Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park in Detroit on Sept. 24, 2021.

Royals pitcher Carlos Hernandez after issuing a walk in the first inning.

A fan holds up a message in the first inning.

No. 46 Jeimer Candelario, third base — S-R, 6-1, 216. Age in season: 28 He’d been hitting in the No. 4-hole all spring, in between Báez and Cabrera. Whether he stays there now that Meadows has been acquired remains to be seen. But it was a good spot for Candelario. He stood to get a lot a fastballs hitting between those two boppers and he is one of the best fastball hitters on the team (slugging over .500 the last two years combined). Meadows also hits fastballs well. Even if he has to move down a few spots, his 42 doubles, 16 homers, .351 on-base percentage and near-.800 OPS will play. A point of emphasis this spring was his defense, trying to get him to read the ball off the bat quicker and, especially on double-play balls, speed up his actions on throws to second. 2021: .271 BA, 119 wRC-plus, 3.2 WAR 2022 salary: $5.8 million

Tigers' Harold Castro lines out with bases loaded to end the first inning.

Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel does not make the play on a single by Tigers’ Jonathan Schoop in the third inning.

Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel does not make the play on a single by Tigers’ Jonathan Schoop in the third inning.

Signs and faces are held up by fans as Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera prepares to bat in the sixth inning of a game last September.

Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera singles in the sixth inning.

The Miguel Cabrera hit counter goes to 2980 after a Cabrera single in the sixth inning.

Tigers’ Jeimer Candelario flies out in the sixth inning.

Tigers' Eric Haase singles with an RBI in the sixth inning.

Royals shortstop Nicky Lopez, right, tags Tigers' Eric Haase in the sixth inning. Haase singles with an RBI but then is out at second on the throw at second.

Tigers pitcher Alex Lange in the seventh inning.

Tigers pitcher Jose Urena works in the fourth inning.

Tigers second baseman Harold Castro drops the ball and Royals’ Ryan O’Hearn (66) reaches second on the error in the fifth inning.

Tigers shortstop Niko Goodrum makes a throw to first in the fifth inning. Royals challenge the call of out at first and it was overturned.

Tigers' Akil Baddoo grounds out in the sixth inning.

Royals manager Mike Matheny watches in the sixth inning.

No. 55 Alex Lange — RHP, 6-3, 193. Age in season: 26 Here’s another worthy breakout candidate. From Aug. 22 on last season, pitching mostly in higher-leverage situations, he allowed just three runs in 18.2 innings, averaging a strikeout an inning and holding hitters to a .191 average. When he commands the strike zone, his upper-90s fastball and high-spin breaking ball are nasty. With Andrew Chafin and Jose Cisnero out, Lange could end up being the seventh- or eighth-inning set-up man right out of the gate. 2021: 1-3. 4.04 ERA, 1.49 WHIP 2022 salary: $700,000

Tigers pitcher Derek Holland works in the eighth inning.

Tigers pitcher Joe Jimenez works in the ninth inning.

Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera hugs Tigers legend Willie Horton, left, as Horton tries to uncover a bat and batting gloves being given to Cabers during a special pregame ceremony celebrating Miguel Cabrera and his journey to 500 home run.

From left, Chris Ilitch, president of Ilitch Holdings and Tigers manager AJ Hinch present Miguel Cabrera with a crystal piece commemorating his 500 home runs during a special pregame ceremony celebrating Miguel Cabrera and his journey to 500 home run.

From left, Tigers' Miguel Cabrera and Al Avila, Tigers Executive Vice President, Baseball Operations/General Manager after Cabrera was given unique artwork, right, during a special pregame ceremony celebrating Miguel Cabrera and his journey to 500 home run.