| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 8.52 | 198110020_CHN_PHI |
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 7.91 | 198110010_HOU_CIN |
| Sammy Stewart | BAL | 4.27 | 198110020_NYA_BAL |
| Jerry Reuss | LAN | 4.2 | 198110020_HOU_LAN |
| Larry Gura | KCA | 4.15 | 198109300_KCA_MIN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Schatzeder | DET | -2.15 | 198110010_BAL_DET |
| Moose Haas | MIL | -2.12 | 198110020_DET_MIL |
| Ken Clay | SEA | -2.07 | 198110020_TOR_SEA |
| Geoff Zahn | ANA | -1.81 | 198110020_ANA_TEX |
| Juan Berenguer | TOR | -1.39 | 198110020_TOR_SEA |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-10-02.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 6.61 | Nolan Ryan | 149.7 | HOU |
| +005+ | 5.47 | Bob Knepper | 153.7 | HOU |
| +006+ | 5.26 | Fernando Valenzuela | 192.3 | LAN |
| +007+ | 5.22 | Steve McCatty | 185.7 | OAK |
| +008+ | 5.18 | Steve Carlton | 190 | PHI |
| +012+ | 4.46 | Jerry Reuss | 152.3 | LAN |
| +014+ | 4.27 | Burt Hooton | 137.3 | LAN |
| +017+ | 4.15 | Tom Seaver | 159.3 | CIN |
| +018+ | 3.94 | Larry Gura | 165.3 | KCA |
| +019+ | 3.92 | Dave Righetti | 105.7 | NYA |
| +020+ | 3.84 | Dennis Lamp | 122 | CHA |
| +023+ | 3.67 | Tommy John | 137.3 | NYA |
| +024+ | 3.65 | Britt Burns | 157 | CHA |
| +027+ | 3.55 | Don Sutton | 158.3 | HOU |
| +029+ | 3.39 | Sammy Stewart | 113 | BAL |
| +030+ | 3.23 | Joe Niekro | 162 | HOU |
| +040+ | 3.04 | Dennis Leonard | 201.7 | KCA |
| +043+ | 2.87 | Bill Gullickson | 155.7 | WAS |
| +045+ | 2.75 | Ken Forsch | 153.3 | ANA |
| +051+ | 2.58 | Bert Blyleven | 159 | CLE |
| +057+ | 2.49 | Al Holland | 93.3 | SFN |
| +060+ | 2.42 | Rick Langford | 187.3 | OAK |
| +063+ | 2.38 | Jim Bibby | 93.7 | PIT |
| +061+ | 2.38 | Jack Morris | 190 | DET |
| +062+ | 2.38 | Scott Sanderson | 134.7 | WAS |
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