| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Reuss | LAN | 7.44 | 198105270_LAN_ATL |
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 5.62 | 198105260_PHI_NYN |
| Scott McGregor | BAL | 3.88 | 198105260_NYA_BAL |
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 3.82 | 198105260_SDN_HOU |
| Ken Forsch | ANA | 2.85 | 198105270_TOR_ANA |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Krukow | CHN | -4.16 | 198105260_PIT_CHN |
| Glenn Abbott | SEA | -3.89 | 198105260_KCA_SEA |
| Wayne Garland | CLE | -2.03 | 198105260_CLE_BOS |
| Bruce Berenyi | CIN | -1.84 | 198105280_SFN_CIN |
| Ferguson Jenkins | TEX | -1.65 | 198105260_MIN_TEX |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-05-28.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +001+ | 4.02 | Bob Knepper | 70.7 | HOU |
| +002+ | 3.86 | Fernando Valenzuela | 91 | LAN |
| +004+ | 3.26 | Nolan Ryan | 56 | HOU |
| +006+ | 2.93 | Jerry Reuss | 66.7 | LAN |
| +007+ | 2.64 | Doyle Alexander | 68.3 | SFN |
| +008+ | 2.58 | Tom Seaver | 69.3 | CIN |
| +010+ | 2.49 | Burt Hooton | 69 | LAN |
| +011+ | 2.28 | Vida Blue | 61.3 | SFN |
| +012+ | 2.23 | Joe Niekro | 79.7 | HOU |
| +017+ | 2.03 | Steve McCatty | 76.3 | OAK |
| +023+ | 1.89 | Len Barker | 56.3 | CLE |
| +027+ | 1.83 | Matt Keough | 71.3 | OAK |
| +026+ | 1.83 | Bryan Clark | 55.3 | SEA |
| +034+ | 1.63 | Steve Trout | 49.7 | CHA |
| +037+ | 1.49 | Scott Sanderson | 56 | WAS |
| +038+ | 1.48 | Bert Blyleven | 66.7 | CLE |
| +039+ | 1.46 | Charlie Lea | 43 | WAS |
| +042+ | 1.43 | Jim Bibby | 57.7 | PIT |
| +045+ | 1.4 | Andy Rincon | 35.7 | SLN |
| +047+ | 1.37 | Rick Langford | 86.3 | OAK |
| +049+ | 1.36 | Brian Kingman | 63 | OAK |
| +051+ | 1.34 | Ken Forsch | 76 | ANA |
| +056+ | 1.29 | Jim Palmer | 62.3 | BAL |
| +058+ | 1.27 | Scott McGregor | 54.7 | BAL |
| XXXXX | 1.25 | Pascual Perez | 26.3 | PIT |
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