| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 6.49 | 198109260_LAN_HOU |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 4.41 | 198109260_CHA_OAK |
| Tommy John | NYA | 3.89 | 198109250_BAL_NYA |
| Steve McCatty | OAK | 3 | 198109260_CHA_OAK |
| Larry Gura | KCA | 2.89 | 198109260_SEA_KCA |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Garland | CLE | -2.31 | 198109250_CLE_BOS |
| Mark Davis | PHI | -2.15 | 198109240_PHI_SLN |
| Moose Haas | MIL | -1.98 | 198109260_MIL_DET |
| Floyd Bannister | SEA | -1.85 | 198109250_SEA_KCA |
| Geoff Zahn | ANA | -1.57 | 198109250_TOR_ANA |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-09-26.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +003+ | 6.02 | Nolan Ryan | 140.7 | HOU |
| +004+ | 5.26 | Bob Knepper | 146.7 | HOU |
| +006+ | 5.08 | Steve Carlton | 174 | PHI |
| +007+ | 4.94 | Steve McCatty | 177.7 | OAK |
| +008+ | 4.8 | Fernando Valenzuela | 177.3 | LAN |
| +015+ | 3.92 | Tom Seaver | 154.3 | CIN |
| +017+ | 3.81 | Dennis Lamp | 114.3 | CHA |
| +018+ | 3.72 | Jerry Reuss | 136.3 | LAN |
| +019+ | 3.64 | Burt Hooton | 130.3 | LAN |
| +020+ | 3.63 | Tommy John | 137.3 | NYA |
| +021+ | 3.59 | Larry Gura | 156.3 | KCA |
| +022+ | 3.58 | Sammy Stewart | 103 | BAL |
| +023+ | 3.56 | Britt Burns | 151 | CHA |
| +024+ | 3.48 | Rick Langford | 180.3 | OAK |
| +031+ | 3.01 | Don Sutton | 147.3 | HOU |
| +034+ | 2.96 | Dave Righetti | 89.7 | NYA |
| +036+ | 2.87 | Scott Sanderson | 131 | WAS |
| +041+ | 2.74 | Bill Gullickson | 149.7 | WAS |
| +042+ | 2.73 | Ken Forsch | 153.3 | ANA |
| +044+ | 2.72 | Joe Niekro | 154 | HOU |
| +049+ | 2.62 | Al Holland | 87.7 | SFN |
| +051+ | 2.59 | Bert Blyleven | 159 | CLE |
| +052+ | 2.47 | Rick Reuschel | 152 | TOT |
| +058+ | 2.34 | Jim Bibby | 93.7 | PIT |
| +059+ | 2.33 | Ron Guidry | 117 | NYA |
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