| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 7.51 | 198109050_CIN_PHI |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 5.89 | 198109060_TOR_CHA |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 5.64 | 198109070_SDN_CIN |
| Jerry Reuss | LAN | 5.43 | 198109050_SLN_LAN |
| Ken Forsch | ANA | 3.14 | 198109060_ANA_CLE |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Krukow | CHN | -2.86 | 198109050_CHN_SFN |
| Jim Clancy | TOR | -2.72 | 198109050_TOR_CHA |
| Ken Clay | SEA | -2.22 | 198109050_SEA_BOS |
| Randy Lerch | MIL | -1.85 | 198109070_MIL_NYA |
| Rick Waits | CLE | -1.74 | 198109070_CLE_BAL |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-09-07.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 5.96 | Nolan Ryan | 112.7 | HOU |
| +004+ | 5.1 | Bob Knepper | 127.7 | HOU |
| +005+ | 4.68 | Fernando Valenzuela | 156 | LAN |
| +007+ | 4.09 | Steve Carlton | 149 | PHI |
| +008+ | 3.95 | Vida Blue | 122 | SFN |
| +010+ | 3.88 | Steve McCatty | 139 | OAK |
| +014+ | 3.46 | Sammy Stewart | 81.7 | BAL |
| +016+ | 3.39 | Dave Righetti | 72.7 | NYA |
| +018+ | 3.24 | Britt Burns | 121 | CHA |
| +019+ | 3.23 | Jerry Reuss | 118 | LAN |
| +021+ | 3.17 | Burt Hooton | 109.7 | LAN |
| +023+ | 3.11 | Tom Seaver | 131.7 | CIN |
| +025+ | 3.06 | Ken Forsch | 147.3 | ANA |
| +027+ | 3.02 | Scott Sanderson | 106.7 | WAS |
| +032+ | 2.7 | Bert Blyleven | 146 | CLE |
| +033+ | 2.69 | Jack Morris | 156 | DET |
| +037+ | 2.58 | Dennis Lamp | 80.7 | CHA |
| +039+ | 2.51 | Doyle Alexander | 114.7 | SFN |
| +047+ | 2.32 | Tommy John | 102.3 | NYA |
| +048+ | 2.3 | Milt Wilcox | 121.7 | DET |
| +057+ | 2.06 | Bill Gullickson | 120.3 | WAS |
| +061+ | 2.01 | John Denny | 110 | CLE |
| +065+ | 1.95 | Ron Guidry | 103 | NYA |
| +066+ | 1.9 | Larry Gura | 133.7 | KCA |
| +068+ | 1.85 | Mike Jones | 44 | KCA |
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