| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rich Gale | KCA | -2.85 | 198106080_NYA_KCA |
| Glenn Abbott | SEA | -2.65 | 198106070_CLE_SEA |
| Bruce Berenyi | CIN | -2.38 | 198106070_WAS_CIN |
| Milt Wilcox | DET | -1.86 | 198106070_MIN_DET |
| Tim Lollar | SDN | -1.76 | 198106060_SDN_SLN |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-06-08.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +001+ | 4.76 | Bob Knepper | 86.7 | HOU |
| +002+ | 3.56 | Nolan Ryan | 72 | HOU |
| +006+ | 3.08 | Fernando Valenzuela | 103.3 | LAN |
| +007+ | 3.02 | Len Barker | 74.7 | CLE |
| +009+ | 2.9 | Ken Forsch | 94 | ANA |
| +010+ | 2.78 | Tom Seaver | 78.3 | CIN |
| +012+ | 2.56 | Jerry Reuss | 71.7 | LAN |
| +014+ | 2.49 | Jack Morris | 103.3 | DET |
| +015+ | 2.47 | Vida Blue | 81.3 | SFN |
| +017+ | 2.42 | Steve McCatty | 85.3 | OAK |
| +022+ | 2.16 | Steve Carlton | 98 | PHI |
| +024+ | 2.15 | Doyle Alexander | 72.3 | SFN |
| +029+ | 1.99 | Joe Niekro | 91.3 | HOU |
| +035+ | 1.82 | Scott Sanderson | 61.7 | WAS |
| +037+ | 1.76 | Burt Hooton | 74.7 | LAN |
| +040+ | 1.72 | Bert Blyleven | 84.3 | CLE |
| +041+ | 1.59 | Jim Bibby | 71.7 | PIT |
| +044+ | 1.53 | Brian Kingman | 72 | OAK |
| +049+ | 1.49 | Rick Langford | 94.3 | OAK |
| +053+ | 1.46 | Dave Righetti | 30 | NYA |
| +058+ | 1.41 | Andy Rincon | 35.7 | SLN |
| +060+ | 1.34 | John Martin | 37.3 | SLN |
| +062+ | 1.32 | Rick Waits | 69.3 | CLE |
| +064+ | 1.31 | Juan Eichelberger | 73.7 | SDN |
| +065+ | 1.3 | Mike Caldwell | 88.3 | MIL |
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