| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 8.88 | 198108300_PHI_HOU |
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 5.93 | 198108280_PHI_HOU |
| Scott Sanderson | WAS | 4.93 | 198108290_ATL_WAS |
| 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 |
| Tim Lollar | SDN | -3.6 | 198108300_SLN_SDN |
| Mike Krukow | CHN | -3.15 | 198108280_CHN_LAN |
| Jim Beattie | SEA | -2.35 | 198108280_SEA_CLE |
| Nino Espinosa | PHI | -2.14 | 198108300_PHI_HOU |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-08-30.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 5.47 | Nolan Ryan | 105.7 | HOU |
| +005+ | 4.26 | Bob Knepper | 111.3 | HOU |
| +007+ | 3.53 | Fernando Valenzuela | 137 | LAN |
| +008+ | 3.47 | Jerry Reuss | 106.3 | LAN |
| +010+ | 3.35 | Tom Seaver | 116.3 | CIN |
| +011+ | 3.34 | Vida Blue | 108.7 | SFN |
| +012+ | 3.33 | Burt Hooton | 109.7 | LAN |
| +013+ | 3.19 | Steve McCatty | 130 | OAK |
| +014+ | 3.18 | Britt Burns | 109 | CHA |
| +017+ | 3.04 | Steve Carlton | 133 | PHI |
| +019+ | 2.94 | Scott Sanderson | 99.7 | WAS |
| +020+ | 2.92 | Sammy Stewart | 71.7 | BAL |
| +027+ | 2.74 | Bert Blyleven | 128.7 | CLE |
| +029+ | 2.66 | Dennis Lamp | 73.3 | CHA |
| +031+ | 2.61 | Jack Morris | 139 | DET |
| +037+ | 2.36 | Jim Bibby | 88.7 | PIT |
| +041+ | 2.32 | Tommy John | 94.3 | NYA |
| +043+ | 2.28 | Dave Righetti | 56.7 | NYA |
| +044+ | 2.25 | Ken Forsch | 131 | ANA |
| +049+ | 2.12 | Rick Langford | 132.3 | OAK |
| +052+ | 2.08 | Bill Gullickson | 114.3 | WAS |
| +060+ | 1.83 | Doyle Alexander | 105.7 | SFN |
| +061+ | 1.8 | Steve Trout | 95.3 | CHA |
| +063+ | 1.79 | Milt Wilcox | 104.7 | DET |
| +068+ | 1.72 | Doug Bird | 86.3 | TOT |
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