| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 7.9 | 198109210_PHI_WAS |
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 6.71 | 198109200_HOU_SFN |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 4.99 | 198109210_CHA_ANA |
| Tommy John | NYA | 4.41 | 198109200_NYA_BOS |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 3.52 | 198109190_CIN_LAN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rick Waits | CLE | -3.48 | 198109210_CLE_NYA |
| Floyd Bannister | SEA | -2.2 | 198109200_KCA_SEA |
| Jim Clancy | TOR | -2.07 | 198109190_ANA_TOR |
| Mike Krukow | CHN | -1.73 | 198109190_CHN_WAS |
| Mike Torrez | BOS | -1.06 | 198109190_NYA_BOS |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-09-21.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +003+ | 5.28 | Nolan Ryan | 131.7 | HOU |
| +004+ | 5.26 | Bob Knepper | 139 | HOU |
| +005+ | 5.09 | Fernando Valenzuela | 171.3 | LAN |
| +006+ | 5.07 | Steve Carlton | 174 | PHI |
| +009+ | 4.16 | Steve McCatty | 160 | OAK |
| +011+ | 4.11 | Jerry Reuss | 131.3 | LAN |
| +013+ | 3.85 | Dave Righetti | 87.7 | NYA |
| +015+ | 3.68 | Sammy Stewart | 96.7 | BAL |
| +018+ | 3.56 | Britt Burns | 144 | CHA |
| +020+ | 3.49 | Tom Seaver | 146.7 | CIN |
| +022+ | 3.23 | Dennis Lamp | 105.3 | CHA |
| +023+ | 3.18 | Vida Blue | 125 | SFN |
| +025+ | 3.09 | Tommy John | 128.3 | NYA |
| +032+ | 2.86 | Joe Niekro | 148 | HOU |
| +031+ | 2.86 | Burt Hooton | 121.3 | LAN |
| +034+ | 2.81 | Jack Morris | 175.3 | DET |
| +035+ | 2.79 | Rick Langford | 171.3 | OAK |
| +036+ | 2.75 | Ken Forsch | 153.3 | ANA |
| +039+ | 2.71 | Scott Sanderson | 124 | WAS |
| +047+ | 2.56 | Bert Blyleven | 159 | CLE |
| +048+ | 2.55 | Bill Gullickson | 142.3 | WAS |
| +050+ | 2.48 | Doyle Alexander | 134.3 | SFN |
| +058+ | 2.3 | John Denny | 125.7 | CLE |
| +060+ | 2.26 | Don Sutton | 138.3 | HOU |
| +064+ | 2.17 | Ron Guidry | 115 | NYA |
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