The set-up: Playing without regulars Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall, the defending AL champs rallied from a four-run deficit for an 8-5 victory at Texas in Monday's season opener for both teams. The Indians got a pair of doubles and an RBI from Carlos Santana, a two-run HR from Jose Ramirez and Encarnacion, who signed a three-year, $60 million contract in the off-season (leaving Toronto for Cleveland), went 2-for-5 with a solo HR and two runs scored. Rougned Odor homered in his first two at-bats to help stake the Rangers to a 5-1 lead after three innings but starter then Yu Darvish and the Texas bullpen imploded. The pitching matchup: Carlos Carrasco (11-8 & 3.32 ERA in 2016) will face Martin Perez (10-11 & 4.39 ERA) in Wednesday's middle game of this three-game series. Carrasco missed the 2016 postseason when he was hit by a line drive that broke his right hand on Sept. 17 and while he was bothered by elbow swelling in spring training, he's set to go here. He's been a solid pitcher for the Indians these last two seasons with 55 starts (Cleveland is 33-22) and 366 strikeouts in 330 innings. Perez made a career-high 33 starts last year for Texas and reached double digits in wins for the second time in his career. He was a different pitcher at home last year (8-3, 3.24 ERA) than on the road (2-8, 5.78) and that's the good news here for the Rangers. The pick: Then again, Perez will face a formidable Cleveland lineup and he had just 103 strikeouts in almost 200 innings (198 2/3), while allowing 76 walks (not a good ratio). He's only had two starts in his career against Cleveland but they've been disastrous, as he's posted a 12.40 ERA while going 0-1 (Texas is 0-2). Carrasco doesn't have a good history against Texas either, with a 1-3 record and 5.52 ERA in five starts (team is 1-4), but he's the superior pitcher. Perez turns 26 today but no birthday gift awaits. Make Cleveland a