Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat: AL | NL

Fantasy baseball closer depth charts: AL | NL

In fantasy baseball, the closer position remains volatile. Rarely does every closer hang on to the job for an entire season - injuries, poor performance and managerial decisions can cloud a team's bullpen picture.

Should you be concerned about a struggling stopper? Which relievers are climbing the depth chart? Are any injuries popping up? KFFL.com's Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat keeps you informed when you're looking for saves.

Mound meetings

• Meek inheriting saves?

  The Arizona Diamondbacks gave manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Josh Byrnes their walking papers over the weekend. Change could mean no one's job is safe, least of all in the D-backs' atrocious bullpen. Last night, Aaron Heilman endeared himself to new manager Kirk Gibson by giving up two runs in the eighth inning and coming away with the loss.
  If you're speculating, grab Chad Qualls, who has three straight scoreless appearances. Juan Gutierrez and Sam Demel should be on your NL-only watch list.
• The Florida Marlins have shown interest in Pittsburgh Pirates closer Octavio Dotel, saver of 19 games, including three since Wednesday. The Fish need a stable bridge to closer Leo Nunez, who rebounded yesterday with a scoreless save (two K's) after blowing two saves in a row.
  Acquiring Dotel would put Nunez on shakier ground, but it would pave the way for Evan Meek to assume ninth-inning duties in the 'Burg. The more erratic Joel Hanrahan could receive consideration, too, but Meek should be on your mixed league roster to avoid the rush if Dotel is traded nearer to the deadline.
• Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre finally brought Jonathan Broxton back from his brief hiatus following his 67-pitch, June 26-27 weekend. J-Brox worked an inning (one hit, one run, one K) Saturday in a blowout win. His work Sunday was in a tighter spot, but he locked down his 17th save with two K's in one inning.
• New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez bounced back quickly from his July 3 blown save. K-Rod struck out one in one inning yesterday for his 20th save. It was Rodriguez's third straight day on the mound and his fifth night of work in the last six days, though, so a day off might be coming up.
• The Colorado Rockies' Huston Street recorded his second save since his return from the DL Friday. Two nights later, he worked two scoreless innings (27 pitches) in Colorado's extra-innings affair and gave up just one hit.
  Manuel Corpas blew a seventh-inning save chance Saturday; he's not worth keeping around, even if you're hoping to vulture a few saves when Street takes a night off.
• Closer John Axford saved his ninth game for the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday. Reliever Trevor Hoffman gave up one run on two hits the next day. They were Hoffman's first runs allowed in more than a month. As good as Axford has pitched, the Hoff is still someone worth gambling on for future saves. Milwaukee hasn't fully committed to the Canadian Ax as their ninth-inning option.
• Philadelphia Phillies reliever Ryan Madson (toe) is slated to return this week after two more rehab appearances. He should slot in as the successor to Brad Lidge, especially given Jose Contreras' somewhat shaky recent form. Make sure Madson is owned in NL-onlys, at least.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat: AL | NL

Fantasy baseball closer depth charts: AL | NL