| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rudy May | NYA | 5.46 | 198105190_KCA_NYA |
| Joe Niekro | HOU | 4.86 | 198105200_HOU_SLN |
| Phil Niekro | ATL | 4.66 | 198105190_ATL_PIT |
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 4.19 | 198105200_PHI_LAN |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 3.28 | 198105200_PHI_LAN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Abbott | SEA | -4.21 | 198105210_SEA_CLE |
| Dan Spillner | CLE | -2.6 | 198105190_ANA_CLE |
| Frank Tanana | BOS | -2.52 | 198105190_SEA_BOS |
| Rich Gale | KCA | -1.69 | 198105190_KCA_NYA |
| Bob Walk | ATL | -1.49 | 198105200_ATL_PIT |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-05-21.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +001+ | 4.64 | Fernando Valenzuela | 79 | LAN |
| +003+ | 2.98 | Bob Knepper | 53 | HOU |
| +004+ | 2.66 | Nolan Ryan | 49 | HOU |
| +007+ | 2.47 | Doyle Alexander | 54.3 | SFN |
| +008+ | 2.27 | Tom Seaver | 66.3 | CIN |
| +009+ | 2.27 | Jerry Reuss | 52 | LAN |
| +010+ | 2.18 | Bert Blyleven | 54 | CLE |
| +012+ | 2.1 | Len Barker | 50.3 | CLE |
| +014+ | 2.06 | Joe Niekro | 73 | HOU |
| +015+ | 1.95 | Burt Hooton | 63.7 | LAN |
| +018+ | 1.81 | Vida Blue | 54 | SFN |
| +021+ | 1.71 | Steve McCatty | 67.3 | OAK |
| +020+ | 1.71 | Scott Sanderson | 50 | WAS |
| +023+ | 1.63 | Brian Kingman | 56 | OAK |
| +025+ | 1.57 | Matt Keough | 63 | OAK |
| +028+ | 1.52 | Bryan Clark | 47 | SEA |
| +034+ | 1.4 | Steve Carlton | 77 | PHI |
| +037+ | 1.38 | Doug Bird | 32 | NYA |
| +038+ | 1.38 | Scott McGregor | 42 | BAL |
| +042+ | 1.3 | Andy Rincon | 35.7 | SLN |
| +044+ | 1.29 | Allen Ripley | 55.3 | SFN |
| XXXXX | 1.21 | Steve Trout | 40.7 | CHA |
| XXXXX | 1.16 | Rick Rhoden | 47.7 | PIT |
| XXXXX | 1.14 | Ken Forsch | 59.7 | ANA |
| XXXXX | 0.99 | Mario Soto | 58.3 | CIN |
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