KEY

Durability grade: 1 (very injury-prone) to 10 (extremely durable)
Job security grade: 1 (very shaky) to 10 (firm grasp)
Hot Seat: Injury concerns

Seattle Mariners

Closer: J.J. Putz (elbow)
Next in Line: Brandon Morrow
Other Possibilities: Mark Lowe, Ryan Rowland-Smith

After allowing a walk to the first batter he faced Wednesday, June 11, Putz left the game with what appeared to be an elbow injury. Morrow relieved Putz and picked up his first save of the season. At the time this article was written, there was nothing further on the extent of Putz's injury. Since he was activated from the DL, Putz has not been able to regain the form he had last season when he posted a 1.38 ERA and 40 saves. In 19 games this season, Putz has a 5.21 ERA, three blown saves and has allowed 38 base runners in 19 innings. He had two blown saves in 68 games last season. If the injury does force Putz to miss an extended amount of time, it is unclear who would take over his role. Morrow would be our guess, because Seattle is high on the young fireballer and he has the best closer stuff. However, when Putz was injured earlier in the season, Rowland-Smith had two saves and Lowe registered one.

Durability grade: 7
Job security grade: 9

Atlanta Braves

Closer: Rafael Soriano (elbow)
Next in Line: Manny Acosta
Other Possibilities: Will Ohman, Blaine Boyer, Jeff Bennett
Disabled List: Mike Gonzalez (elbow), Peter Moylan (elbow), John Smoltz (shoulder)

Soriano complained last week that he still has tendonitis in his throwing elbow. As a result, he missed the June 6-8 series against the Phillies. As of Tuesday, June 10, Soriano needed to warm up each day to determine if he is able to come into the game. He hasn't pitched since saving the game Thursday, June 5. Smoltz is no longer an option after having season-ending shoulder surgery June 10. Acosta hasn't been reliable of late and has allowed seven earned runs in his last three innings; his last save came Tuesday, May 20. With Soriano's day-to-day status, Gonzalez likely will be an option to close games once he returns from the DL sometime this week. However, until Gonzalez returns, Soriano and Acosta are the only two relievers who are expected to receive save chances.

Durability grade: 5 (last week: 6)
Job security grade: 6 (last week: 8)

Milwaukee Brewers

Closer: Salomon Torres
Next in Line: Guillermo Mota
Other Possibilities: Brian Shouse
Disabled List: Eric Gagne (shoulder)

Torres has been solid since taking over the ninth-inning role for Gagne on Friday, May 23. In seven appearances, he has six saves and one win. Gagne continues to play catch from a flat surface to build back the strength in his arm before he begins throwing from a mound. He is hopeful to return to the team during their nine-game homestand which begins Friday, June 13. Manager Ned Yost has been pleased with Torres as his closer and sees him as a throwback that can go two innings. Yost is open to keeping Torres as the closer when Gagne returns, but that is likely to be determined by how well he continues to perform in Gagne's absence. In the meantime, Torres is a must-own in all fantasy formats, while Gagne should be held in all leagues despite his inconsistencies this season.

Durability grade: 8
Job security grade: 8 (without Gagne; last week: 7)

St. Louis Cardinals

Closer: Ryan Franklin
Next in Line: Chris Perez, Russ Springer
Other Possibilities: Kyle McClellan, Randy Flores
Disabled List: Jason Isringhausen (hand)

Isringhausen buzzed through two scoreless innings Monday, June 9, needing only 21 pitches to retire seven batters in his first rehab appearance for Class-A Palm Beach. Manager Tony La Russa has made it clear that Izzy's job is waiting for him when he is ready to return to the team. However, Franklin has been solid since Izzy was placed on the disabled list Friday, May 16. During that time, Franklin has six saves in seven opportunities, including a dominant performance where he struck out the side for his eighth save of the season June 8. Perez remains the closer of the future, but with Isringhausen eventually set to return to that role, he likely won't see many opportunities while Izzy is on the roster and Franklin is dealing. For now, Franklin and Isringhausen should be owned in all fantasy formats.

Durability grade: 8
Job security grade: 8 (without Isringhausen)

Tampa Bay Rays

Closer: Dan Wheeler
Next in Line: Al Reyes
Other Possibilities: Gary Glover, Trever Miller, Grant Balfour
Disabled List: Troy Percival (hamstring)

Fantasy owners of Percival haven't missed much in his absence. Since he was placed on the disabled list May 29, the Rays have only needed the services of a closer twice. Balfour picked up the save in a matchup situation Saturday, May 31, while Wheeler picked up his second save of the season Saturday, June 7. All signs point to Percival returning to the team for their nine-game homestand which is set to begin the day he is eligible to come off the DL (June 13). Percival, who has 14 saves in 16 opportunities this season, noted that his arm is fine and that they worked to strengthen the problem area. Percival should be owned in all fantasy formats. Last season, Reyes led the club with 26 saves but hasn't seen an opportunity since Percival went down. Both pitchers could see an opportunity to pick up a save once in awhile, but once Percival returns to his job neither Wheeler nor Reyes is worth holding outside of AL-only leagues.

Durability grade: 8
Job security grade: 3 (without Percival)

Hot Seat: Lackluster performance

Toronto Blue Jays

Closer: B.J. Ryan
Next in Line: Scott Downs
Other Possibilities: Jesse Carlson, Jason Frasor
Disabled List: Jeremy Accardo (forearm)

Ryan quickly regained his ninth-inning composure while shutting the door on his 13th save of the season Sunday, June 8. However, prior to that outing, Ryan had left fantasy owners shaking their heads after he blew consecutive save opportunities and allowed five earned runs in 1 1/3 innings. After a loss June 11, he now has three losses in his last five outings. Since he was cleared to throw on consecutive days May 5, Ryan had shut the door on eight straight. Ryan's job isn't in jeopardy, but Downs could be a candidate to pick up the occasional save. He is currently working on a streak of 15 1/3 scoreless innings and is the only other reliever to register a save since Accardo was placed on the DL Saturday, May 10. Accardo pitched a scoreless inning in a rehab assignment for Single-A Dunedin June 10 and likely won't be recalled within the next couple of weeks. Downs could help fantasy teams with their ratios while possibly picking up the occasional save in all fantasy leagues, and he should be owned in AL-only leagues. Ryan is still receiving the save opportunities, so hang on to him.

Durability grade: 8
Job security grade: 9