| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 7.09 | 198108190_WAS_HOU |
| Scott Sanderson | WAS | 5.65 | 198108190_WAS_HOU |
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 5.22 | 198108180_PHI_CIN |
| Tommy John | NYA | 3.72 | 198108190_CHA_NYA |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 3.35 | 198108180_PHI_CIN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Clay | SEA | -3.26 | 198108180_CLE_SEA |
| Mike Krukow | CHN | -2.59 | 198108190_LAN_CHN |
| Mike Torrez | BOS | -1.84 | 198108180_BOS_OAK |
| Ferguson Jenkins | TEX | -1.4 | 198108182_MIL_TEX |
| Dan Schatzeder | DET | -1.16 | 198108190_MIN_DET |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-08-20.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +001+ | 4.82 | Nolan Ryan | 91.7 | HOU |
| +003+ | 4.61 | Bob Knepper | 99.3 | HOU |
| +007+ | 3.29 | Jerry Reuss | 92.3 | LAN |
| +009+ | 2.69 | Vida Blue | 93.7 | SFN |
| +012+ | 2.62 | Steve McCatty | 112 | OAK |
| +014+ | 2.59 | Tom Seaver | 98.7 | CIN |
| +018+ | 2.46 | Sammy Stewart | 64 | BAL |
| +020+ | 2.4 | Fernando Valenzuela | 119.3 | LAN |
| +023+ | 2.31 | Scott Sanderson | 87.3 | WAS |
| +026+ | 2.27 | Burt Hooton | 92.7 | LAN |
| +030+ | 2.14 | Len Barker | 97.3 | CLE |
| +033+ | 2.07 | Dave Righetti | 42 | NYA |
| +035+ | 2.06 | Ken Forsch | 114.7 | ANA |
| +036+ | 2.02 | Joe Niekro | 108.7 | HOU |
| +037+ | 2.01 | Jack Morris | 123 | DET |
| +039+ | 1.95 | Steve Carlton | 120 | PHI |
| +043+ | 1.91 | Bert Blyleven | 115 | CLE |
| +050+ | 1.84 | Dennis Lamp | 54.3 | CHA |
| +052+ | 1.83 | Doug Bird | 67.3 | TOT |
| +053+ | 1.81 | Jim Bibby | 82.7 | PIT |
| +057+ | 1.73 | Rick Honeycutt | 78.3 | TEX |
| +056+ | 1.73 | Britt Burns | 93 | CHA |
| +062+ | 1.63 | Milt Wilcox | 98.7 | DET |
| +065+ | 1.58 | Jim Palmer | 83.3 | BAL |
| +068+ | 1.57 | Steve Trout | 81 | CHA |
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