Ottoneu Cold Right Now: September 18, 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:
- Roster Cuts: Analysis of players who have been cut in a high percentage of leagues.
- Recent Injuries: A look at the implications of recent injuries (not all, just some high-profile ones).
- 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
Luis Matos, Add% Change (7 Days): -8.6%
Still only 23 years old, Matos heads back down to AAA after coming back down to earth from a stellar August in which he slashed .415/.432/.756 in 44 plate appearances. A .424 BABIP aided that, but still, it was good for a 225 wRC+. On the rolling chart below, take a look at Matos’ K% and HardHit% between games 40-50:
Those games mostly represent his hot August stretch, and in that time, he dropped his K% below league average at the cost of hard hit balls. The problem is, Matos has not really had issues with strikeouts or contact, so we couldn’t suggest he back off the A-swings and look to make more contact. His career (593 PA) zone contact rate is a high 92.3% and his K% is a low 14.2%. Lastly, his career BB% is 6.1%. That is the type of profile that is susceptible to batted ball luck, and while August went well in that department, on the season, Matos’ BABIP sits at .217. He’ll need to find a better balance between contact and power. He has it in him. His 2025 maxEV reached 111.6 MPH, and his average bat speed is slightly better than league average.
Jeffrey Springs, Add% Change (7 Days): -5.0%
Springs’ 3.61 P/IP is the lowest mark he’s posted in five seasons. Playing for the Athletics in a minor league stadium has hurt his HR/9, which is 1.98 at home and 1.12 on the road. Even with a very good changeup by SwStr% (23.2% vs. a comparable usage average 18.0%), Springs’ K% is at his lowest mark ever, 19.5%. He has had his good weeks…
…but he hasn’t met his ATC pre-season expectations. You may have had luck streaming or being selective with Springs this season, good for you, but others have been hurt by the low weeks of homer destruction.
Tyler Freeman, Add% Change (7 days): -10.1%
It’s hard to tell why Freeman is being dropped; he’s had a solid season. Perhaps it’s his power-lacking slash line (.277/.354/.357). But, he brings defensive versatility, and despite an incredibly low 2.2% Barrel%, he’s still hitting the ball hard at a decent clip of 40.0%. Playing in Colorado has helped his BABIP remain high, and he makes good enough contact for batted ball luck to sprinkle pixie dust on his batting average. He’s hit both lefties (.271) and righties (.280), and if you throw in his 17 stolen bases, you have a pretty darn good roto player. When playing for the Guardians in 2023, he nearly reached .400 with his slugging percentage, and he’s only 26 years old. There may still be room to grow into a little more power.
Injuries
José Alvarado, Add% Change (7 days): -22.32%
Alvarado came back from suspension in mid-August and threw 26.0 innings riddled with walks and home runs. It was reported that his forearm injury is significant enough that he won’t pitch again this season.
Cold Performers
Cold performers are marked by measuring low P/G or P/IP in the last 14 days.
Andrés Giménez, -0.4 P/G
The Blue Jays second baseman has dealt with a lot of injuries in 2025, but since coming back from the IL in mid-August, he’s really slumping, slashing .188/.248/.271 with a .213 BABIP. Something has to give as his actuals are well below his expected stats, and his K% and BB% aren’t that far off from what he’s done in the past. Perhaps the injury is lowering his ability to hit the ball hard.
Zach McKinstry, -0.4 P/G
McKinstry has played all over the diamond for the Tigers in 2025 while posting career-high single-season home run (11) and stolen base (19) totals. His .437 SLG is also a career high. He’s had a good season, but he’s been streaky. In his last 14 games, he’s only hitting .216 and slugging .351.
Matthew Boyd, 1.6 P/IP
Boyd has had an incredible season at age 34, but his last two starts have been problematic. He’s given up a combined two home runs and four walks while getting hit more than usual. His 2.00 WHIP in those two games is well above his 1.11 season mark. His velocity seems perfectly fine, and for those contending, hopefully, he’ll rebound in one more outing before the season’s end.
Nick Lodolo, 2.0 P/IP
Lodolo hasn’t necessarily had a home run problem in 2025; his HR/9 of 1.24 is exactly league average. But he gave up three in his most recent outing. It was in Sacramento, and Lodolo didn’t walk any batters, so we should give him a pass there. On the season, he’s posted the best WHIP/ERA combination of his career, and while his K% is down, so is his BB%.