| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 8.17 | 198109110_PHI_PIT |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 4.87 | 198109110_CHA_MIN |
| Jerry Reuss | LAN | 4.85 | 198109110_LAN_CIN |
| Ken Forsch | ANA | 3.89 | 198109110_TEX_ANA |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 3.79 | 198109120_LAN_CIN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rick Waits | CLE | -2.88 | 198109110_CLE_DET |
| Randy Lerch | MIL | -2.15 | 198109120_BAL_MIL |
| Mark Davis | PHI | -2.14 | 198109130_PHI_PIT |
| Pete Redfern | MIN | -1.67 | 198109120_CHA_MIN |
| Geoff Zahn | ANA | -1.55 | 198109120_TEX_ANA |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-09-13.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 5.76 | Bob Knepper | 135 | HOU |
| +003+ | 5.29 | Nolan Ryan | 116.7 | HOU |
| +005+ | 4.73 | Steve Carlton | 156 | PHI |
| +007+ | 4.34 | Fernando Valenzuela | 162.3 | LAN |
| +008+ | 4.3 | Steve McCatty | 154.3 | OAK |
| +010+ | 3.78 | Dave Righetti | 79.7 | NYA |
| +011+ | 3.73 | Jerry Reuss | 124.3 | LAN |
| +013+ | 3.65 | Burt Hooton | 115.7 | LAN |
| +018+ | 3.45 | Sammy Stewart | 88.7 | BAL |
| +022+ | 3.2 | Vida Blue | 125 | SFN |
| +023+ | 3.04 | Britt Burns | 128 | CHA |
| +029+ | 2.75 | Tom Seaver | 137.7 | CIN |
| +030+ | 2.73 | Ken Forsch | 153.3 | ANA |
| +033+ | 2.7 | Bert Blyleven | 153 | CLE |
| +036+ | 2.67 | Tommy John | 111.3 | NYA |
| +039+ | 2.6 | Dennis Lamp | 88 | CHA |
| +042+ | 2.48 | John Denny | 117.7 | CLE |
| +046+ | 2.4 | Doyle Alexander | 128 | SFN |
| +056+ | 2.15 | Rick Reuschel | 136.3 | TOT |
| +058+ | 2.1 | Joe Niekro | 139 | HOU |
| +059+ | 2.09 | Scott Sanderson | 115 | WAS |
| +061+ | 2.07 | Larry Gura | 138.3 | KCA |
| +062+ | 2.06 | Steve Trout | 116.3 | CHA |
| +064+ | 2.03 | Rick Honeycutt | 111.3 | TEX |
| +065+ | 2.02 | Bill Gullickson | 126.7 | WAS |
_