| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 6.55 | 198108140_HOU_SDN |
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 5.99 | 198108130_SLN_PHI |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 5.3 | 198108120_CIN_LAN |
| Scott Sanderson | WAS | 4.94 | 198108140_SLN_WAS |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 2.45 | 198108120_CHA_BOS |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rich Gale | KCA | -3.67 | 198108130_KCA_BAL |
| Ken Clay | SEA | -3.63 | 198108120_ANA_SEA |
| Ken Kravec | CHN | -2.75 | 198108120_NYN_CHN |
| Mike LaCoss | CIN | -2.19 | 198108142_SFN_CIN |
| Wayne Garland | CLE | -2.04 | 198108130_MIL_CLE |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-08-14.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 4.34 | Nolan Ryan | 85.7 | HOU |
| +003+ | 4.34 | Bob Knepper | 90.7 | HOU |
| +006+ | 3.63 | Jerry Reuss | 86.3 | LAN |
| +009+ | 3.2 | Steve McCatty | 104.3 | OAK |
| +010+ | 3.13 | Ken Forsch | 109 | ANA |
| +011+ | 3.05 | Fernando Valenzuela | 114.7 | LAN |
| +012+ | 2.87 | Len Barker | 90.7 | CLE |
| +013+ | 2.81 | Scott Sanderson | 83.3 | WAS |
| +016+ | 2.5 | Jack Morris | 118.3 | DET |
| +022+ | 2.28 | Sammy Stewart | 61.7 | BAL |
| +027+ | 2.13 | Tom Seaver | 90.3 | CIN |
| +028+ | 2.12 | Vida Blue | 84 | SFN |
| +029+ | 2.09 | Richard Dotson | 97 | CHA |
| +037+ | 1.81 | Jim Bibby | 76.3 | PIT |
| +038+ | 1.81 | Bert Blyleven | 108.3 | CLE |
| +039+ | 1.8 | Doyle Alexander | 82.7 | SFN |
| +041+ | 1.79 | Juan Eichelberger | 89.7 | SDN |
| +043+ | 1.78 | Dave Righetti | 36 | NYA |
| +046+ | 1.74 | Steve Carlton | 113 | PHI |
| +055+ | 1.65 | Steve Trout | 74.3 | CHA |
| +062+ | 1.51 | John Martin | 44.3 | SLN |
| +059+ | 1.51 | Burt Hooton | 83.7 | LAN |
| +063+ | 1.48 | Dennis Lamp | 45 | CHA |
| +066+ | 1.48 | Chris Welsh | 78.3 | SDN |
| +065+ | 1.48 | Brian Kingman | 76 | OAK |
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