| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 8.88 | 198108300_PHI_HOU |
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 6.28 | 198109010_PHI_ATL |
| Jerry Reuss | LAN | 6.09 | 198108310_PIT_LAN |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 5.3 | 198109010_DET_CHA |
| Ken Forsch | ANA | 2.92 | 198109010_ANA_BOS |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Lollar | SDN | -3.6 | 198108300_SLN_SDN |
| Jim Clancy | TOR | -2.95 | 198109010_TOR_TEX |
| Mike Krukow | CHN | -2.91 | 198109010_CHN_SDN |
| Ken Clay | SEA | -2.18 | 198108310_SEA_BAL |
| Nino Espinosa | PHI | -2.14 | 198108300_PHI_HOU |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-09-01.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 5.43 | Nolan Ryan | 105.7 | HOU |
| +004+ | 4.22 | Bob Knepper | 111.3 | HOU |
| +006+ | 4 | Fernando Valenzuela | 147 | LAN |
| +007+ | 3.75 | Steve Carlton | 142 | PHI |
| +009+ | 3.59 | Britt Burns | 117 | CHA |
| +011+ | 3.4 | Vida Blue | 115 | SFN |
| +012+ | 3.38 | Jerry Reuss | 111.7 | LAN |
| +014+ | 3.3 | Tom Seaver | 116.3 | CIN |
| +015+ | 3.29 | Sammy Stewart | 79 | BAL |
| +016+ | 3.21 | Burt Hooton | 109.7 | LAN |
| +017+ | 3.14 | Steve McCatty | 130 | OAK |
| +021+ | 2.93 | Dave Righetti | 64.7 | NYA |
| +022+ | 2.91 | Scott Sanderson | 99.7 | WAS |
| +030+ | 2.63 | Dennis Lamp | 73.3 | CHA |
| +032+ | 2.55 | Jack Morris | 139 | DET |
| +036+ | 2.49 | Ken Forsch | 139.3 | ANA |
| +041+ | 2.34 | Bert Blyleven | 137 | CLE |
| +043+ | 2.29 | Milt Wilcox | 113.7 | DET |
| +045+ | 2.28 | Jim Bibby | 88.7 | PIT |
| +044+ | 2.28 | Tommy John | 94.3 | NYA |
| +049+ | 2.17 | Rick Langford | 138.7 | OAK |
| +053+ | 2.04 | Bill Gullickson | 114.3 | WAS |
| +066+ | 1.79 | Doyle Alexander | 105.7 | SFN |
| +067+ | 1.76 | Steve Trout | 95.3 | CHA |
| +068+ | 1.75 | Dave LaRoche | 35.7 | NYA |
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