| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Forsch | ANA | 5.71 | 198108160_ANA_OAK |
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 5.22 | 198108180_PHI_CIN |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 3.35 | 198108180_PHI_CIN |
| Joe Niekro | HOU | 3.3 | 198108160_HOU_SDN |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 2.64 | 198108170_CHA_NYA |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rich Gale | KCA | -3.87 | 198108170_TOR_KCA |
| Ken Clay | SEA | -3.26 | 198108180_CLE_SEA |
| Ken Kravec | CHN | -2.43 | 198108161_PIT_CHN |
| Randy Lerch | MIL | -2.35 | 198108162_MIL_TOR |
| Mike Torrez | BOS | -1.84 | 198108180_BOS_OAK |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-08-18.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 4.6 | Bob Knepper | 99.3 | HOU |
| +003+ | 4.32 | Nolan Ryan | 85.7 | HOU |
| +007+ | 3.27 | Jerry Reuss | 92.3 | LAN |
| +009+ | 3.02 | Steve McCatty | 104.3 | OAK |
| +010+ | 2.79 | Scott Sanderson | 83.3 | WAS |
| +012+ | 2.66 | Vida Blue | 93.7 | SFN |
| +014+ | 2.58 | Tom Seaver | 98.7 | CIN |
| +018+ | 2.44 | Sammy Stewart | 64 | BAL |
| +021+ | 2.37 | Fernando Valenzuela | 119.3 | LAN |
| +026+ | 2.25 | Burt Hooton | 92.7 | LAN |
| +031+ | 2.13 | Len Barker | 97.3 | CLE |
| +033+ | 2.07 | Dave Righetti | 42 | NYA |
| +034+ | 2.06 | Richard Dotson | 97 | CHA |
| +035+ | 2.05 | Ken Forsch | 114.7 | ANA |
| +036+ | 2.01 | Joe Niekro | 108.7 | HOU |
| +038+ | 2 | Doyle Alexander | 90.7 | SFN |
| +037+ | 2 | Jack Morris | 123 | DET |
| +044+ | 1.92 | Steve Carlton | 120 | PHI |
| +046+ | 1.91 | Bert Blyleven | 115 | CLE |
| +048+ | 1.82 | Doug Bird | 67.3 | TOT |
| +050+ | 1.79 | Jim Bibby | 82.7 | PIT |
| +054+ | 1.72 | Britt Burns | 93 | CHA |
| +055+ | 1.72 | Rick Honeycutt | 78.3 | TEX |
| +062+ | 1.65 | Dennis Lamp | 49.7 | CHA |
| +063+ | 1.62 | Milt Wilcox | 98.7 | DET |
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