| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 4.52 | 198109140_LAN_SDN |
| Tommy John | NYA | 4.09 | 198109140_NYA_MIL |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 3.79 | 198109120_LAN_CIN |
| Steve McCatty | OAK | 3.18 | 198109130_KCA_OAK |
| Bob Knepper | HOU | 2.96 | 198109130_SFN_HOU |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Lerch | MIL | -2.15 | 198109120_BAL_MIL |
| Mark Davis | PHI | -2.14 | 198109130_PHI_PIT |
| Floyd Bannister | SEA | -2.05 | 198109140_CHA_SEA |
| Jim Clancy | TOR | -1.78 | 198109140_MIN_TOR |
| Pete Redfern | MIN | -1.67 | 198109120_CHA_MIN |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-09-14.
| 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 |
| +012+ | 3.73 | Jerry Reuss | 124.3 | LAN |
| +017+ | 3.45 | Sammy Stewart | 88.7 | BAL |
| +020+ | 3.29 | Burt Hooton | 119 | LAN |
| +021+ | 3.2 | Vida Blue | 125 | SFN |
| +023+ | 3.04 | Britt Burns | 128 | CHA |
| +024+ | 3.01 | Tommy John | 120.3 | NYA |
| +026+ | 2.94 | Dennis Lamp | 97 | CHA |
| +031+ | 2.75 | Tom Seaver | 137.7 | CIN |
| +032+ | 2.73 | Ken Forsch | 153.3 | ANA |
| +034+ | 2.7 | Bert Blyleven | 153 | CLE |
| +042+ | 2.48 | John Denny | 117.7 | CLE |
| +045+ | 2.4 | Doyle Alexander | 128 | SFN |
| +052+ | 2.23 | Rick Langford | 162.3 | OAK |
| +055+ | 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 |
| +063+ | 2.06 | Steve Trout | 116.3 | CHA |
| +065+ | 2.03 | Rick Honeycutt | 111.3 | TEX |
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