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For his first decision, Chris Woodward sits Shin-Soo Choo on opening day

ARLINGTON -- Chris Woodward's first big decision as manager: Sit the team's lone 2018 All-Star on opening day.

No wonder Shin-Soo Choo, the All-Star in question, showed up with a head of gray hair Thursday.

Woodward said the Rangers' decision to play Hunter Pence at DH over Choo had nothing to do with Choo's role on the team, nothing to do with sentimentality for the hometown player and maybe a little to do with the matchup against Chicago lefty Jon Lester. Choo is 2 for 17 in his career against Lester with nine strikeouts, while Pence is 3 for 15 with a homer.