| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 5.32 | 198108230_HOU_PHI |
| Joe Niekro | HOU | 4.14 | 198108220_HOU_PHI |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 4.07 | 198108230_NYN_CIN |
| Tommy John | NYA | 3.45 | 198108240_MIN_NYA |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 3.42 | 198108220_CHA_TOR |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rich Gale | KCA | -3.62 | 198108230_KCA_NYA |
| Ken Clay | SEA | -3.23 | 198108230_BOS_SEA |
| Mike Krukow | CHN | -2 | 198108240_SDN_CHN |
| Jim Clancy | TOR | -1.66 | 198108220_CHA_TOR |
| Randy Lerch | MIL | -1.57 | 198108220_MIN_MIL |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-08-24.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 4.89 | Nolan Ryan | 91.7 | HOU |
| +004+ | 4.09 | Jerry Reuss | 101.3 | LAN |
| +005+ | 3.84 | Bob Knepper | 104.3 | HOU |
| +007+ | 3.38 | Vida Blue | 101.7 | SFN |
| +009+ | 3.07 | Burt Hooton | 101.7 | LAN |
| +011+ | 2.92 | Tom Seaver | 107.3 | CIN |
| +012+ | 2.91 | Sammy Stewart | 69 | BAL |
| +015+ | 2.75 | Fernando Valenzuela | 128 | LAN |
| +019+ | 2.66 | Steve McCatty | 112 | OAK |
| +024+ | 2.54 | Britt Burns | 102 | CHA |
| +025+ | 2.5 | Steve Carlton | 127 | PHI |
| +028+ | 2.41 | Ken Forsch | 123.7 | ANA |
| +031+ | 2.34 | Bert Blyleven | 122 | CLE |
| +033+ | 2.33 | Scott Sanderson | 87.3 | WAS |
| +032+ | 2.33 | Jim Bibby | 88.7 | PIT |
| +039+ | 2.12 | Rick Langford | 126 | OAK |
| +045+ | 2.05 | Rick Honeycutt | 86.7 | TEX |
| +047+ | 2.04 | Doug Bird | 75.3 | TOT |
| +048+ | 2.03 | Jack Morris | 123 | DET |
| +049+ | 2.03 | Dennis Lamp | 56.3 | CHA |
| +055+ | 1.89 | Jim Palmer | 91.7 | BAL |
| +057+ | 1.87 | Dave Righetti | 49.7 | NYA |
| +059+ | 1.86 | Steve Trout | 89 | CHA |
| +066+ | 1.74 | Milt Wilcox | 104.7 | DET |
| +068+ | 1.72 | Doyle Alexander | 99.3 | SFN |
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