Ottoneu Cold Right Now: August 20, 2025

Cold Right Now (CRN) is a weekly Ottoneu feature focused on players being dropped or who should be dropped in Ottoneu leagues. In this feature, we will break down players into three sections:

1. Roster Cuts: Analysis of players who have been cut in a high percentage of leagues.
2. Recent Injuries: A look at the implications of recent injuries (not all, just some high-profile ones).
3. Cold Performers: Players with a low P/G or P/IP in recent weeks.

This article will typically run once per week and will help fantasy managers keep track of players that need to be given extra attention to improve rosters.

Roster Cuts

Nathaniel Lowe, Add% Change (7 days): -21.7%

Lowe was released by the Nationals on August 16th and was signed by the Red Sox two days later. There has been no mainstay first baseman in Boston all season since Triston Casas went down with a knee injury in early May. Playing time at first has been divied out to Abraham Toro (57 GS), Romy Gonzalez (32 GS), and Nick Sogard (11 GS) since Casas went down. Since joining the team, Lowe has only played in two games, but Boston’s RosterResource page lists him as the starting first baseman against right-handed pitching. From a defensive standpoint, Lowe doesn’t seem to add value:

But from an offensive one against right-handed pitching, he certainly does:

Lowe’s Ottoneu production (P/G) has been on a downward trend since 2022…

2022: 5.80 -> 2023: 5.42 -> 2024: 4.77 -> 2025: 3.77

…but maybe he’ll find something in Boston. Just last night (Tuesday, 8/19), Lowe blasted a two-run home run against the Orioles and took a walk in four plate appearances. Lowe was dropped quickly in Ottoneu leagues after his release from the Nationals, but he still has value, as it seems he’ll be getting playing time with the Red Sox.

Otto Kemp, Add% Change (7 Days): -7.95%

Though Kemp had a lot going for him in his age-25 rookie season, including an above-average HardHit% and Barrel%, he struck out too often in his 161 big league plate appearances and was demoted to AAA on August 17th. His defensive versatility is nice in both the real world and fantasy world, but his 30.4% K%, most likely caused by being challenged in the zone (80.8% Z-Contact), did not justify keeping him on the major league roster. While all of his expected stats stand higher than his actuals…

AVG: .228, xAVG: .249

SLG: .359, xSLG: .413

wOBA: .292, xwOBA: .319

…Kemp will need to work on giving himself more opportunities by putting the ball in play more often. He doesn’t have the power, he has only hit four home runs this season, to justify all that swing and miss. All is not lost. Keep an eye on his status as it’s very likely he’ll be back up with the major league squad at some point this season.

Slade Cecconi, Add% Change (7 Days): -7.65%

Cecconi has been a sneaky Ottonue points league pitcher. By that, I mean he’s usable in the Ottoneu format because you can ignore his 4.50 ERA. However, his success is highly dependent on how far he can go into the game and how many hits he gives up. Take a look at his most recent four stat lines:

The hit totals, walks, and homers even out some when he can go deeper into the game, but without the longevity, he negatively impacts your points totals. Cecconi has always been homer-prone, running higher than average HR/9 ratios in each of his three seasons as a major league starter, but things are getting worse as he’s shown an increase in his HR/FB% in each. Adding fuel to the fire in that time has been his increased BB%, and while Cecconi has run better than average BB% marks throughout his career, it has been rising in 2025:

He’s only 26 and may be able to get his control back in line with where it was in the 2024 season, but it’s not likely he’ll suddenly boost his stuff and K% levels to provide value that way.

Injuries

Brock Stewart, Add% Change (7 days): -22.32%

Did you know Brock Stewart’s slider is an elite 143 Stuff+? It’s the deepest of red colors on his player page. Unfortunately, the big right-hander remains on the IL with a shoulder issue and has forced Ottoneu managers to give up for the year. Rotowire is reporting that a PRP injection has helped, but it’s unclear what that means as it relates to his return to the bullpen.

Adolis García, Add% Change (7 days): -21.7%

An ankle sprain has placed Adolis on the IL. The Rangers’ outfielder was only slashing .196/.213/.348 with one home run in August before the injury, so Ottoneu managers likely finally had their reason to drop him from their rosters. His 3.64 P/G mark in 2025 is his lowest in five seasons.

Cold Performers

Cold performers are marked by measuring low P/G or P/IP in the last 14 days.

Jesús Sánchez,  -0.4 P/G

Sánchez has had trouble adapting to his new team as he’s only slashed .161/.217/.250 in August with the Astros. He’s still hitting in the top half of the order and has been a streaky hitter all season.

Logan O’Hoppe,  -0.3 P/G

O’Hoppe is running a .192 BABIP in August. His season slugging percentage is .406, but he’s only hitting .146 this month. He’s also striking out at an elevated rate.

Spencer Strider, -6.3 P/IP

Strider has had a very rough stretch in his last four (arguably more) starts. His walk rate has gone up, his strikeout rate has gone down, and he’s giving up way more home runs than he typically does. He’s had an elevated HR/9 in 2025 at 1.71, but in his last four appearances, it has jumped to 3.78. He’s given up seven of his 17 home runs in his last four appearances.

Seth Lugo, -1.9 P/IP

Like Strider above, Lugo has also been homer-prone in his last few starts, giving up two in each of his last three appearances. He hasn’t gone deep enough into games to balance out the elevated walk and home run rate he’s displayed.