| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 6.28 | 198109010_PHI_ATL |
| Jerry Reuss | LAN | 6.09 | 198108310_PIT_LAN |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 5.3 | 198109010_DET_CHA |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 4.6 | 198109020_WAS_CIN |
| Ken Forsch | ANA | 2.92 | 198109010_ANA_BOS |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Clancy | TOR | -2.95 | 198109010_TOR_TEX |
| Mike Krukow | CHN | -2.91 | 198109010_CHN_SDN |
| Ken Clay | SEA | -2.18 | 198108310_SEA_BAL |
| Randy Lerch | MIL | -2 | 198109020_MIL_KCA |
| Rick Waits | CLE | -1.92 | 198109022_OAK_CLE |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-09-02.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 5.41 | Nolan Ryan | 105.7 | HOU |
| +003+ | 4.94 | Bob Knepper | 120.3 | HOU |
| +006+ | 3.97 | Fernando Valenzuela | 147 | LAN |
| +007+ | 3.95 | Tom Seaver | 124.3 | CIN |
| +008+ | 3.72 | Steve Carlton | 142 | PHI |
| +010+ | 3.55 | Britt Burns | 117 | CHA |
| +012+ | 3.37 | Vida Blue | 115 | SFN |
| +013+ | 3.36 | Jerry Reuss | 111.7 | LAN |
| +015+ | 3.26 | Sammy Stewart | 79 | BAL |
| +017+ | 3.19 | Burt Hooton | 109.7 | LAN |
| +018+ | 3.14 | Steve McCatty | 130 | OAK |
| +021+ | 2.92 | Dave Righetti | 64.7 | NYA |
| +022+ | 2.9 | Scott Sanderson | 99.7 | WAS |
| +031+ | 2.6 | Dennis Lamp | 73.3 | CHA |
| +035+ | 2.51 | Jack Morris | 139 | DET |
| +036+ | 2.48 | Ken Forsch | 139.3 | ANA |
| +043+ | 2.31 | Bert Blyleven | 137 | CLE |
| +045+ | 2.27 | Tommy John | 94.3 | NYA |
| +046+ | 2.26 | Milt Wilcox | 113.7 | DET |
| +050+ | 2.18 | Rick Langford | 138.7 | OAK |
| +055+ | 2.03 | Bill Gullickson | 114.3 | WAS |
| +062+ | 1.81 | Ron Guidry | 96.3 | NYA |
| +067+ | 1.77 | Doyle Alexander | 105.7 | SFN |
| +069+ | 1.74 | Dave LaRoche | 35.7 | NYA |
| +072+ | 1.72 | Steve Trout | 95.3 | CHA |
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