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Apr 12, 2010 - 12:48 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Texas (2-3) at Cleveland (2-3), 3:05 p.m. EDT

Fausto Carmona and the Cleveland Indians may be facing the worst possible opponent in their home opener.

Carmona looks to beat the Texas Rangers at home for the first time in six career starts Monday when the teams begin a three-game series.

Cleveland (2-4) lost eight of nine games against Texas in 2009, with Carmona (1-0, 4.50 ERA) going 0-3 with a 10.03 ERA in three outings. That included two home losses that dropped him to 0-5 with an 8.86 ERA in five starts at Progressive Field against the Rangers.

The right-hander's last start versus Texas (3-3) was a miserable 10-0 loss Sept. 9. He failed to get out of the first inning for the first time in three seasons, recording two outs and allowing five runs. Carmona did not speak to reporters after that game.

The Indians are hoping Carmona gets off to a better start at home than he did last season, when he went 0-5 with a 4.82 ERA in his first nine outings at Progressive Field. He was 3-1 with a 3.92 ERA in his last four, although the loss was the poor outing against Texas.

Carmona won his first outing in 2010 on Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing three runs, one hit and six walks in a 5-3 victory. He claims he's ready to erase memories of 2009.

"I don't think about any of that," he said. "I think about the new year and ready to pitch."

He'll want to pitch carefully to Josh Hamilton, who is 4 for 10 with three doubles against him, and David Murphy, who is 5 for 7.

Hamilton went 12 for 23 (.522) with six RBIs against Cleveland last season, going 9 for 12 with four doubles on the road. The Indians also had trouble with Ian Kinsler (.464) - currently on the disabled list - and Elvis Andrus (.344), with each driving in seven runs in the season series.

Cleveland headed home after being swept over the weekend at Detroit. The Indians issued nine walks and blew a five-run lead in the seventh inning in Sunday's 9-8 loss.

"That's why you can't expect to walk eight or nine guys and beat anyone," manager Manny Acta said.

Center fielder Grady Sizemore was scratched from the Indians' lineup with a stiff back, but expects to play Monday.

Vladimir Guerrero continued his torrid start for Texas in a 9-2 home win over Seattle on Sunday. Guerrero had three hits and went 12 for 24 in the Rangers' season-opening six-game homestand.

Rangers manager Ron Washington said before the game that 21-year-old right-hander Neftali Feliz will serve as temporary closer in place of struggling Frank Francisco, who has blown saves in his two opportunities this season and has a 27.00 ERA in three appearances.

"Frankie will be the closer of the Texas Rangers," Washington said. "We're just giving him a chance to get himself together."

Rich Harden (0-0, 2.45) will try to last longer in his second start with Texas than he did in his first. He gave up one run and three hits over 3 2-3 innings Wednesday in a 7-4 loss to Toronto, walking five and striking out eight.

Harden is 1-0 with a 4.85 ERA in five career starts against the Indians, who don't have a batter with more than four career at-bats against him.