| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 6.28 | 198109010_PHI_ATL |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 5.3 | 198109010_DET_CHA |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 4.6 | 198109020_WAS_CIN |
| Scott Sanderson | WAS | 4.56 | 198109030_HOU_WAS |
| Tommy John | NYA | 4.15 | 198109030_NYA_KCA |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Clancy | TOR | -2.95 | 198109010_TOR_TEX |
| Mike Krukow | CHN | -2.91 | 198109010_CHN_SDN |
| Randy Lerch | MIL | -2 | 198109020_MIL_KCA |
| Rick Waits | CLE | -1.92 | 198109022_OAK_CLE |
| Mike Torrez | BOS | -1.36 | 198109030_SEA_BOS |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-09-03.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 5.43 | Nolan Ryan | 105.7 | HOU |
| +004+ | 4.97 | Bob Knepper | 120.3 | HOU |
| +006+ | 4 | Fernando Valenzuela | 147 | LAN |
| +007+ | 3.97 | Tom Seaver | 124.3 | CIN |
| +008+ | 3.91 | Steve McCatty | 139 | OAK |
| +009+ | 3.75 | Steve Carlton | 142 | PHI |
| +011+ | 3.57 | Britt Burns | 117 | CHA |
| +013+ | 3.4 | Vida Blue | 115 | SFN |
| +014+ | 3.38 | Jerry Reuss | 111.7 | LAN |
| +017+ | 3.27 | Sammy Stewart | 79 | BAL |
| +019+ | 3.21 | Burt Hooton | 109.7 | LAN |
| +020+ | 3.09 | Scott Sanderson | 106.7 | WAS |
| +025+ | 2.94 | Dave Righetti | 64.7 | NYA |
| +031+ | 2.62 | Dennis Lamp | 73.3 | CHA |
| +034+ | 2.53 | Doyle Alexander | 114.7 | SFN |
| +035+ | 2.5 | Ken Forsch | 139.3 | ANA |
| +043+ | 2.34 | Bert Blyleven | 137 | CLE |
| +041+ | 2.34 | Tommy John | 102.3 | NYA |
| +047+ | 2.28 | Milt Wilcox | 113.7 | DET |
| +050+ | 2.2 | Rick Langford | 138.7 | OAK |
| +052+ | 2.16 | Jack Morris | 147 | DET |
| +058+ | 2.05 | Bill Gullickson | 114.3 | WAS |
| +064+ | 1.84 | Ron Guidry | 96.3 | NYA |
| +069+ | 1.75 | Dave LaRoche | 35.7 | NYA |
| +071+ | 1.73 | Steve Trout | 102.7 | CHA |
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