| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 8.52 | 198110020_CHN_PHI |
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 7.91 | 198110010_HOU_CIN |
| Tommy John | NYA | 4.52 | 198110030_NYA_BAL |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 4.34 | 198110030_ATL_CIN |
| Sammy Stewart | BAL | 4.27 | 198110020_NYA_BAL |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Lollar | SDN | -4.38 | 198110032_SDN_SFN |
| 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 |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-10-03.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 6.61 | Nolan Ryan | 149.7 | HOU |
| +004+ | 5.48 | Bob Knepper | 153.7 | HOU |
| +006+ | 5.25 | Fernando Valenzuela | 192.3 | LAN |
| +007+ | 5.2 | Steve McCatty | 185.7 | OAK |
| +008+ | 5.16 | Steve Carlton | 190 | PHI |
| +012+ | 4.45 | Jerry Reuss | 152.3 | LAN |
| +015+ | 4.26 | Burt Hooton | 137.3 | LAN |
| +017+ | 4.09 | Tom Seaver | 166.3 | CIN |
| +018+ | 3.93 | Larry Gura | 165.3 | KCA |
| +019+ | 3.93 | Dave Righetti | 105.7 | NYA |
| +023+ | 3.64 | Britt Burns | 157 | CHA |
| +024+ | 3.62 | Dennis Lamp | 127 | CHA |
| +026+ | 3.56 | Don Sutton | 158.3 | HOU |
| +029+ | 3.38 | Sammy Stewart | 113 | BAL |
| +030+ | 3.27 | Tommy John | 140 | NYA |
| +040+ | 3.02 | Dennis Leonard | 201.7 | KCA |
| +042+ | 2.94 | Joe Niekro | 166 | HOU |
| +044+ | 2.86 | Bill Gullickson | 155.7 | WAS |
| +046+ | 2.74 | Ken Forsch | 153.3 | ANA |
| +048+ | 2.72 | Al Holland | 101.7 | SFN |
| +050+ | 2.64 | Jack Morris | 198 | DET |
| +053+ | 2.59 | Ron Guidry | 127 | NYA |
| +054+ | 2.57 | Bert Blyleven | 159 | CLE |
| +056+ | 2.54 | Rick Langford | 196.7 | OAK |
| +068+ | 2.28 | Doyle Alexander | 152.3 | SFN |
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