| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 5.93 | 198108280_PHI_HOU |
| Scott Sanderson | WAS | 4.93 | 198108290_ATL_WAS |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 4.65 | 198108270_NYA_CHA |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 4.28 | 198108280_CIN_NYN |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 4.21 | 198108290_CHN_LAN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rich Gale | KCA | -6.21 | 198108280_KCA_TOR |
| Mike Krukow | CHN | -3.15 | 198108280_CHN_LAN |
| Jim Beattie | SEA | -2.35 | 198108280_SEA_CLE |
| Rick Waits | CLE | -2.13 | 198108290_SEA_CLE |
| Jim Clancy | TOR | -1.71 | 198108270_KCA_TOR |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-08-29.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +001+ | 5.5 | Nolan Ryan | 98.7 | HOU |
| +004+ | 4.25 | Bob Knepper | 111.3 | HOU |
| +007+ | 3.5 | Fernando Valenzuela | 137 | LAN |
| +008+ | 3.45 | Jerry Reuss | 106.3 | LAN |
| +009+ | 3.33 | Tom Seaver | 116.3 | CIN |
| +010+ | 3.32 | Vida Blue | 108.7 | SFN |
| +011+ | 3.31 | Burt Hooton | 109.7 | LAN |
| +014+ | 3.16 | Britt Burns | 109 | CHA |
| +016+ | 3.05 | Steve McCatty | 121 | OAK |
| +017+ | 3.02 | Steve Carlton | 133 | PHI |
| +018+ | 2.96 | Scott Sanderson | 99.7 | WAS |
| +022+ | 2.9 | Sammy Stewart | 71.7 | BAL |
| +029+ | 2.72 | Bert Blyleven | 128.7 | CLE |
| +030+ | 2.6 | Dennis Lamp | 65.3 | CHA |
| +037+ | 2.33 | Jim Bibby | 88.7 | PIT |
| +039+ | 2.31 | Bill Gullickson | 109.3 | WAS |
| +040+ | 2.3 | Tommy John | 94.3 | NYA |
| +041+ | 2.27 | Dave Righetti | 56.7 | NYA |
| +043+ | 2.22 | Ken Forsch | 131 | ANA |
| +050+ | 2.09 | Rick Langford | 132.3 | OAK |
| +053+ | 2.03 | Jack Morris | 130 | DET |
| +060+ | 1.81 | Doyle Alexander | 105.7 | SFN |
| +062+ | 1.79 | Steve Trout | 95.3 | CHA |
| +063+ | 1.78 | Len Barker | 112.3 | CLE |
| +066+ | 1.77 | Milt Wilcox | 104.7 | DET |
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