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

Chicago Cubs

Closer: Carlos Marmol
Next in line: Kerry Wood (finger)
Other possibilities: Jeff Samardzija, Chad Gaudin, Bob Howry

Marmol has allowed no runs and only two hits in his last nine appearances, though he has walked seven batters during that 10-inning span. He has also fanned 16 hitters and filled in quite well for the injured Wood, who had been sidelined by blister problems since July 11. The 25-year-old is 6-for-8 in save opportunities this year, including 3-for-3 while Wood was out, and has firmly re-established himself as the No. 2 man in the Cubs bullpen.

Wood was activated from the disabled list Tuesday, August 5, and pitched a solid eighth inning that same day. Wood is slated to resume his closing duties after a very brief stint in middle relief. He figures to be back in the closer's chair within a week.

Samardzija, meanwhile, picked up a two-inning save July 27, and the 23-year-old righty has pitched very well in his first big-league stint. However, he's unlikely to garner many saves with both Wood and Marmol healthy.

Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 2 (last week: 8)

Los Angeles Dodgers

Closer: Jonathan Broxton
Next in line: Chan Ho Park, Hong-Chih Kuo
Other possibilities: Joe Beimel
Disabled list: Takashi Saito (elbow)

Broxton continues to sail along, posting a 2.31 ERA in July, including a 1.35 mark after the All-Star break. He has converted all five of his save opportunities since inheriting the role from Saito and is firmly entrenched as the Dodgers' closer at this point.

Broxton's heavy workload gave Park a chance to close a game Saturday, August 2, and the veteran tossed one-third of an inning to record his second save of the season. Kuo worked in setup duty that night but was lifted in the ninth in favor of Park. We would expect Park to occasionally spell Broxton when the closer isn't available, with Kuo also in the mix to face left-handed batters.

Saito is still not sure whether he'll undergo surgery on his injured elbow, and he's tentatively scheduled to try throwing late this week. The best-case scenario would have Saito back in mid-September, but with the way Broxton is pitching, he'd likely have a tough time regaining his old job.

Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 9 (last week: 8)

New York Mets

Closer: Aaron Heilman
Next in line: Eddie Kunz, Scott Schoeneweis
Other possibilities: Joe Smith, Duaner Sanchez
Disabled list: Billy Wagner (forearm)

Wagner was placed on the disabled list Tuesday, August 5, due to a strained left forearm. An MRI had showed no structural damage, but the Mets elected to play it safe with their diminutive fireballer.

Heilman received the ball in the ninth inning that night with the Mets leading by four runs. Nineteen pitches and three earned runs later, Smith was in the game. Smith retired the only batter he faced before Schoeneweis came in to record the final out for his first save of the season.

Manager Jerry Manuel said the Mets will probably employ a closer-by-committee approach until Wagner returns. Kunz is a great dark-horse option. The 22-year-old has nasty stuff, but he has never pitched above Double-A ball, where he posted a 2.79 ERA and 27 saves this season.

Heilman's disastrous outing may be just the impetus needed to hand Kunz the ball in the ninth and see what happens. Kunz is a great speculative pickup in NL-only and deep mixed leagues.

Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 3

Pittsburgh Pirates

Closer: Tyler Yates, John Grabow
Next in line: Craig Hansen
Other possibilities: Denny Bautista
Disabled list: Matt Capps (shoulder)

Yates picked up a save Tuesday, July 29, but imploded in his next appearance, allowing five earned runs in just one-third of an inning Monday, August 4. Grabow notched a save Friday, August 1, but the lefty surrendered a run and walked two in two-thirds of an inning during his next outing. The newly acquired Hansen is considered to have the stuff to close games, but his 5.67 ERA and 1.68 WHIP this season are not encouraging numbers. The closer situation in Pittsburgh is not a pretty picture at the moment, and mixed league owners would be well advised to steer clear of both Yates and Grabow until they get their legs under them.

Meanwhile, Capps is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery from shoulder bursitis, and he pitched a scoreless inning Tuesday, August 5, as part of his minor league rehab assignment. Capps may rejoin the team as soon as mid-August, so if he has been dropped in your league now might be a good time for a waiver wire grab.

Durability grade: 8
Job security grade: 3

Texas Rangers

Closer: Eddie Guardado
Next in line: Frank Francisco
Other possibilities: Jamey Wright, Joaquin Benoit
Disabled list: C.J. Wilson (elbow)

Wilson's been struggling mightily of late, surrendering 11 earned runs in his last six innings of work while also blowing two of his last three save opportunities. Wilson was rocked for four earned runs in just one-third of an inning Tuesday, August 5, and was subsequently placed on the DL with bone spurs in his left elbow. There is a very real possibility that Wilson may elect to have season-ending surgery on his problematic elbow, which has apparently been bothering him for some time.

That injury opens the door for Guardado, who owns a 3.02 ERA with three saves on the season. "Everyday Eddie" has 186 career saves, so he's perfectly capable of holding down the job on a long-term basis. If Guardado is available in your league now is the time to grab him if you need saves.

While Guardado should receive the majority of the save chances, Francisco has pitched effectively in a setup role this year and may get a shot to close when the 37-year-old southpaw is unavailable.

Durability grade: 6
Job security grade: 7

Hot Seat: Lackluster Performance

Arizona Diamondbacks

Closer: Brandon Lyon
Next in line: Jon Rauch
Other possibilities: Tony Pena, Chad Qualls

Lyon had a very bumpy month of July, in which he struggled to a 6.52 ERA with two losses and a pair of blown saves. He had strung together a few nice outings of late, chalking up back-to-back saves Thursday, July 31, and Friday, August 1. He was roughed up for four hits and two earned runs in a non-save situation (don't we all just hate those?) Monday, August 4, though.

Rauch has forged a 2.84 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in seven appearances for Arizona, and the big right-hander could certainly close games if Lyon hits another rough stretch. For now, though, Lyon's job is reasonably safe. However, the presence of another experienced closer in Rauch means he'll likely have a much shorter leash than he did earlier this season.

Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 7

Atlanta Braves

Closer: Mike Gonzalez
Next in line: Jeff Bennett
Other possibilities: Blaine Boyer, Will Ohman
Disabled list: Rafael Soriano (elbow), Manny Acosta (hamstring)

Gonzalez hasn't had a save opportunity since July 18, but he has been getting the ball in the ninth inning of the Braves' blowout wins. The lefty has pitched well since returning with a 2.65 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and four saves in as many opportunities. Though he hasn't received a lot of save opportunities, Gonzalez's job appears very safe, especially with Soriano back on the DL with more elbow problems.

A recurrence of elbow pain and inflammation landed Soriano back on the disabled list Monday, August 4, marking the third time he has been on the DL this season. Though there is no official timetable for his return, Soriano's chances to pitch again this season must now be considered in jeopardy. His loss is Gonzalez's gain, and fantasy owners should check to see if Gonzo is somehow still available in mixed leagues.

Durability grade: 6
Job security grade: 9 (last week: 7)

Cleveland Indians

Closer: Rafael Perez, Masahide Kobayashi
Next in line: Rafael Betancourt
Other possibilities: Jensen Lewis, Edward Mujica

Kobayashi looked to be at the head of the Indians' closer-by-committee arrangement, but Perez recorded a two-inning save Monday, August 4, presumably with Kobayashi available. In fact, Kobayashi hasn't pitched since July 31, so there are certainly questions about the Tribe's bullpen hierarchy. Perhaps Kobayashi's 5.59 ERA in July and 8.44 mark in six appearances after the All-Star break have motivated Indians manager Eric Wedge to give some other ninth-inning options a look.

Perez is perhaps the best of these options; the willowy lefty possesses wicked stuff, and he has pitched very well since posting a rather uncharacteristic 5.25 ERA back in April. Betancourt, meanwhile, just can't seem to get things going, and his 7.43 ERA in July was emblematic of what's been a very disappointing season for the right-hander.

Look for both Perez and Kobayashi to get chances to close depending upon the matchups.

Durability grade: 8
Job security grade: 5 (last week: 4)

Detroit Tigers

Closer: Joel Zumaya
Next in line: Kyle Farnsworth, Fernando Rodney
Other possibilities: Ryan Perry, Freddy Dolsi
Disabled list: Todd Jones (shoulder)

Avert your gaze, fantasy managers: The train wreck that is the Tigers bullpen may have reached its low point Sunday, August 3, against the Rays. First, Farnsworth served up a solo homer and a two-run shot to squander a two-run lead in the eighth inning. Then, Rodney walked three batters and hit another man en route to blowing his second straight save. OK, revert your gaze and let's see if we can sort this mess out.

Rodney has allowed five earned runs and issued nine walks in his past five appearances, and his struggles apparently prompted Tigers manager Jim Leyland to name Zumaya the team's closer Tuesday, August 5. Zumaya has awesome stuff, but he has been dealing with a tender right shoulder and right triceps muscle. Zumaya did not fare well in his first appearance as a closer, allowing four runs (one earned) in blowing the save. That outing marked the fifth straight game in which Zumaya has allowed at least one run. Farnsworth was pitching well before his disaster at Tampa Bay, and he could get a chance to close if Zumaya doesn't pan out.

Former closer Jones was struggling badly before shoulder tendinitis landed him on the DL, and there is currently no timetable for his return. There's not much evidence to recommend any of the Tigers relievers at this point, so shallow mixed leaguers should probably steer clear of this situation until someone emerges as a viable ninth-inning option. For now, Zumaya is the man, but his hold on the job is anything but firm.

Durability grade: 6
Job security grade: 3

Milwaukee Brewers

Closer: Salomon Torres
Next in line: Eric Gagne
Other possibilities: David Riske, Brian Shouse

Torres' numbers have inched steadily upward over the past several weeks, and his 3.75 ERA in July was his highest monthly mark so far this season. That being said, he still recorded seven saves in nine chances last month and continues to do a very serviceable job as Milwaukee's closer.

Gagne has quietly cobbled together a few solid outings recently, and he has a 1.80 ERA in six appearances since the break. He's not currently a threat to Torres' job, but Gagne is showing signs of becoming a viable setup man.

Durability grade: 8
Job security grade: 8 (last week: 7)

Oakland Athletics

Closer: Huston Street
Next in line: Brad Ziegler, Jerry Blevins
Other possibilities: Santiago Casilla, Joey Devine

Street has blown three of his last four save opportunities, including an ugly two-run meltdown Tuesday, August 5. All told, Street is 1-4 with a 6.00 ERA and four blown saves over his last 16 appearances. A's manager Bob Geren has publicly talked about giving his other relievers a chance to close once in a while, and Street's latest misstep could hasten that plan.

Perhaps the most intriguing potential suitor is Ziegler, who has not yet allowed a run in his 34-inning major league career. Though he doesn't have a great strikeout pitch, Ziegler's submarine delivery makes him effective against both left- and right-handed batters.

Blevins is a lefty who has also pitched very well this season, and he could see some chances to close, especially if the opposing batters are predominantly left-handed.

At this juncture, Street is on very shaky ground, and we'd expect him to lose some save opportunities for at least the near future.

Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 6

St. Louis Cardinals

Closer: Jason Isringhausen
Next in line: Ryan Franklin
Other possibilities: Kyle McClellan, Chris Perez

Isringhausen was moved back into the closer's chair in St. Louis, and the veteran reliever responded by converting his first save opportunity Friday, Aug. 1. However, the veteran imploded Tuesday, August 5, allowing three earned runs and four hits in one-third of an inning before being removed for Franklin. His stay there may not last much longer.

Franklin pitched himself out of the closer's job, struggling to a woeful 6.59 ERA and 1.83 WHIP in July. Franklin did some nice work replacing Isringhausen earlier in the year, but his lack of dominant stuff ultimately spelled his demise as a closer.

We don't expect the Cardinals to stick with Isringhausen through his peaks and valleys. They've done so in the past, but general manager John Mozeliak said he plans to confer with manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan about the bullpen. Mozeliak said the Cards need to see results.

Durability grade: 6
Job security grade: 3

Seattle Mariners

Closer: J.J. Putz
Next in line: Sean Green
Other possibilities: Mark Lowe

Putz is back in the closer's job and despite being credited with a blown save Tuesday, August 5, he actually work 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn a win. Plus, now that pitcher Brandon Morrow is destined for the starting rotation, Putz figures to have the job for the duration. The Mariners optioned Morrow to Triple-A Tacoma on August 5, with the intention that he returns to the majors as a starting pitcher. Putz has pitched reasonably well since returning from the DL, and he should be a decent source of saves going forward.

Morrow, meanwhile, did stellar work as the M's closer, and he could still be a fantasy factor if he can have similar success as a member of the starting rotation. Look for Morrow to return to the majors later this year. For now, though, Morrow can be dropped in most mixed formats.

Durability grade: 7
Job security grade: 8

Washington Nationals

Closer: Joel Hanrahan
Next in line: Saul Rivera
Other possibilities: Luis Ayala, Jesus Colome

Hanrahan picked up his first major league save Sunday, August 3, despite allowing a solo home run. Hanrahan has fanned 72 batters in 63 1/3 innings this season, so he does appear to have the stuff to hold down the closer's job for the duration of the season.

Rivera logged a 2.00 ERA in July, and the 30-year-old veteran would be the likely choice for ninth-inning duty if Hanrahan were to stumble. The Nationals don't generate a lot of save opportunities, but Hanrahan is worth owning in all mixed leagues as he tries to cement his place at the back of Washington's bullpen.

Durability grade: 8
Job security grade: 8