Such intrigue is standard fare for the latest edition of the little soap opera we call the Closer Hot Seat.

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

Atlanta Braves

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

Acosta continues in the closer's role, but he hasn't gotten much work of late. The 27-year-old allowed two runs in a non-save situation May 12, inflating his season ERA to 4.24 and his WHIP to 1.47. He's really the Braves' only viable ninth inning option at the moment, but he figures to lose his job to either Soriano or Smoltz, depending on which of those two return from the DL first. Soriano was "a little sore" following a 10-minute bullpen session May 12, but if he stays on track he could return by the end of May. Smoltz has said he'll return to the bullpen once he works through his injured rotator cuff, and we should well remember that Smoltz was lights-out as a closer from 2002-2004. Gonzalez also has closing experience, and he's currently working extended spring training games, but his return date should coincide with that of Smoltz and/or Soriano. Leave Acosta in your lineup for now, but keep a close eye on the respective rehabs of his potential successors.

Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 8 (for this week only)

Cleveland Indians

Closer: Rafael Betancourt
Next in Line: Masahide Kobayashi
Other Possibilities: Jensen Lewis, Rafael Perez, Jorge Julio
Disabled List: Joe Borowski (triceps)

Betancourt was roughed up for three runs against Toronto on May 12 - the second three-run inning he has allowed in his last six appearances. His ERA ballooned to 6.89 after that shelling, and his .328 average against shows he's been rather hittable of late. Meanwhile, setup man Masahide Kobayashi's been doing solid work out of the pen, and the 33-year-old garnered the save the night after Betancourt's implosion. Lewis is a fireballing young right-hander, but the Indians have shown no indication that he'd be in line for saves this year. Last year's closer, Joe Borowski (triceps), continues his recovery from a strained triceps muscle, and he's expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week. The Tribe expects JoeBo to be back with the team by the end of May, and given Betancourt's recent struggles Borowski could reclaim the closer's job almost immediately. Until then, Betancourt's job appears reasonably safe, though a couple more bumpy outings could cause the Tribe to give Kobayashi more opportunities in the ninth inning.

Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 7 (Last week: 8)

Toronto Blue Jays

Closer: B.J. Ryan
Next in Line: Scott Downs
Other Possibilities: Jesse Carlson, Armando Benitez

Ryan hasn't allowed a run in his first 11 appearances this year, and he's posted six saves during that time. The big lefty was recently cleared to work back-to-back games, and the loss of surrogate closer Jeremy Accardo (forearm) means Ryan should get plenty of chances going forward. Accardo hit the DL on May 10 with tightness in his right forearm, which perhaps explains his ugly 6.57 ERA and 1.54 WHIP this season. Downs continues to pitch effectively as a left-handed setup man, and he's racked up four saves this season to boot. If Ryan were to succumb to an injury again, Downs would likely get the first shot at closing duties. If not Downs, then perhaps lefty Jesse Carlson, who has fashioned a nifty 1.62 ERA through his first 19 appearances. The Jays signed 35-year-old Armando Benitez on May 10, but his injury woes should prevent him from being a viable option for at least the immediate future.

Durability grade: 7
Job security grade: 9

Hot Seat: Lackluster Performance

Colorado Rockies

Closer: Brian Fuentes
Next in Line: Taylor Buchholz
Other Possibilities: Manny Corpas

Fuentes has stabilized the Rockies bullpen since taking over as the team's closer April 24, converting four straight save opportunities and allowing only three hits in his first six innings of work. Former closer Manny Corpas, meanwhile, continues to struggle - to the tune of a 10.13 ERA and 2.63 WHIP through his first five appearances in May. There's been talk of demoting Corpas to Triple-A to allow him to regain command and confidence, and that's looking like a viable option at this point. Buchholz continues to pitch well in a setup role, posting a 1.74 ERA through his first 18 appearances. He pitched a perfect eighth inning against the Padres on May 9, earning his seventh hold of the season. He'd almost certainly be next in line for save opportunities if Fuentes falters, and he could rack up a few saves when Fuentes isn't available.

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

Milwaukee Brewers

Closer: Eric Gagne
Next in Line: Salomon Torres
Other Possibilities: Brian Shouse, Guillermo Mota

What a mess. After Gagne was roughed up against the Cardinals on May 10, the veteran closer stated he didn't feel he deserved to be the closer anymore. One day later, manager Ned Yost apparently voiced his agreement by announcing a closer-by-committee in Brew City. Gagne's since voiced his readiness to jump back into the ninth-inning role, but the team gave Salomon Torres the first "post-Gagne" shot at earning a save. Torres allowed one earned run, one hit and a walk before giving way to left-hander Brian Shouse, who got the last out to earn his first save of the season. The following game, Mitch Stetter came on in a non-save situation and promptly turned it into one by walking four batters in two-thirds of an inning. Veteran Guillermo Mota cleaned up the mess and got the save. If things weren't confusing enough, on Tuesday the Brewers turned to none other than Gagne in the ninth inning, and he picked up his 10th save of the season. Needless to say, there are plenty of questions surrounding the Milwaukee bullpen situation, but we're leaving Gagne in the top spot - for now.

Durability grade: 6
Job security grade: 3 (Last week: 8)

St. Louis Cardinals

Closer: Ryan Franklin
Next in Line: Russ Springer
Other Possibilities: Kyle McClellan, Jason Isringhausen

After watching Isringhausen blow his fourth save in his last seven opportunities, manager Tony La Russa had apparently seen enough. La Russa removed Izzy from his long-standing role May 10, announcing that the team would "mix and match" its relievers when save opportunities arose. Setup man Ryan Franklin got the first such opportunity and pitched an uneventful ninth inning to earn the save May 10. Franklin figures to be the top option until Isringhausen gets his act together, and he's a low-end option in mixed league formats while he has the closer's job. He isn't a strikeout pitcher - he's fanned only nine batters in his first 20 innings this season - but his 1.80 ERA and 1.25 WHIP speak for themselves. Reliever Russ Springer pitched the eighth inning the night of Franklin's save, with right-hander Kyle McClellan working the seventh. We see no reason why that pattern won't continue as long as Franklin is getting the job done, though we also expect Isringhausen will get his job back once he tweaks his mechanics a bit.

Durability grade: 8
Job security grade: 5