| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 7.91 | 198110010_HOU_CIN |
| Larry Gura | KCA | 4.15 | 198109300_KCA_MIN |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 3.99 | 198109300_ANA_CHA |
| Fernando Valenzuela | LAN | 3.75 | 198110010_SDN_LAN |
| Phil Niekro | ATL | 2.33 | 198110010_SFN_ATL |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Clancy | TOR | -2.38 | 198109290_TOR_OAK |
| Mark Davis | PHI | -2.35 | 198109290_NYN_PHI |
| Dan Schatzeder | DET | -2.15 | 198110010_BAL_DET |
| Floyd Bannister | SEA | -1.62 | 198109300_TEX_SEA |
| Ken Kravec | CHN | -1.16 | 198109290_CHN_PIT |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-10-01.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 6.57 | Nolan Ryan | 149.7 | HOU |
| +005+ | 5.43 | Bob Knepper | 153.7 | HOU |
| +006+ | 5.4 | Steve Carlton | 183 | PHI |
| +007+ | 5.23 | Fernando Valenzuela | 192.3 | LAN |
| +008+ | 4.93 | Steve McCatty | 177.7 | OAK |
| +013+ | 4.28 | Sammy Stewart | 111.3 | BAL |
| +014+ | 4.24 | Burt Hooton | 137.3 | LAN |
| +017+ | 4.12 | Tom Seaver | 159.3 | CIN |
| +018+ | 3.92 | Larry Gura | 165.3 | KCA |
| +019+ | 3.9 | Jerry Reuss | 143.3 | LAN |
| +020+ | 3.82 | Dennis Lamp | 122 | CHA |
| +022+ | 3.65 | Tommy John | 137.3 | NYA |
| +023+ | 3.63 | Britt Burns | 157 | CHA |
| +026+ | 3.56 | Don Sutton | 156.3 | HOU |
| +029+ | 3.31 | Dave Righetti | 98.7 | NYA |
| +032+ | 3.19 | Joe Niekro | 162 | HOU |
| +041+ | 2.84 | Bill Gullickson | 155.7 | WAS |
| +044+ | 2.73 | Ken Forsch | 153.3 | ANA |
| +045+ | 2.68 | Dan Petry | 136.7 | DET |
| +052+ | 2.55 | Bert Blyleven | 159 | CLE |
| +055+ | 2.47 | Al Holland | 93.3 | SFN |
| +060+ | 2.37 | Rick Langford | 187.3 | OAK |
| +062+ | 2.36 | Jim Bibby | 93.7 | PIT |
| +061+ | 2.36 | Scott Sanderson | 134.7 | WAS |
| +063+ | 2.33 | Jack Morris | 190 | DET |
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