| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 8.88 | 198108300_PHI_HOU |
| Jerry Reuss | LAN | 6.09 | 198108310_PIT_LAN |
| Scott Sanderson | WAS | 4.93 | 198108290_ATL_WAS |
| Tommy John | NYA | 3.54 | 198108290_NYA_CHA |
| Bert Blyleven | CLE | 2.67 | 198108310_OAK_CLE |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Lollar | SDN | -3.6 | 198108300_SLN_SDN |
| Ken Clay | SEA | -2.18 | 198108310_SEA_BAL |
| Nino Espinosa | PHI | -2.14 | 198108300_PHI_HOU |
| Rick Waits | CLE | -2.13 | 198108290_SEA_CLE |
| Ken Kravec | CHN | -1.81 | 198108310_CHN_SDN |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-08-31.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 5.45 | Nolan Ryan | 105.7 | HOU |
| +003+ | 4.25 | Bob Knepper | 111.3 | HOU |
| +008+ | 3.5 | Fernando Valenzuela | 137 | LAN |
| +009+ | 3.47 | Jerry Reuss | 111.7 | LAN |
| +011+ | 3.33 | Tom Seaver | 116.3 | CIN |
| +012+ | 3.33 | Vida Blue | 108.7 | SFN |
| +013+ | 3.32 | Sammy Stewart | 79 | BAL |
| +014+ | 3.31 | Burt Hooton | 109.7 | LAN |
| +015+ | 3.17 | Steve McCatty | 130 | OAK |
| +016+ | 3.16 | Britt Burns | 109 | CHA |
| +018+ | 3.03 | Steve Carlton | 133 | PHI |
| +021+ | 2.95 | Dave Righetti | 64.7 | NYA |
| +022+ | 2.93 | Scott Sanderson | 99.7 | WAS |
| +029+ | 2.65 | Dennis Lamp | 73.3 | CHA |
| +031+ | 2.59 | Jack Morris | 139 | DET |
| +038+ | 2.37 | Bert Blyleven | 137 | CLE |
| +040+ | 2.34 | Jim Bibby | 88.7 | PIT |
| +041+ | 2.33 | Milt Wilcox | 113.7 | DET |
| +043+ | 2.3 | Tommy John | 94.3 | NYA |
| +045+ | 2.25 | Ken Forsch | 131 | ANA |
| +047+ | 2.21 | Rick Langford | 138.7 | OAK |
| +053+ | 2.07 | Bill Gullickson | 114.3 | WAS |
| +061+ | 1.82 | Doyle Alexander | 105.7 | SFN |
| +065+ | 1.79 | Steve Trout | 95.3 | CHA |
| +070+ | 1.71 | Doug Bird | 86.3 | TOT |
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