| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Gura | KCA | 4.76 | 198110040_OAK_KCA |
| Tommy John | NYA | 4.52 | 198110030_NYA_BAL |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 4.35 | 198110040_HOU_LAN |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 4.34 | 198110030_ATL_CIN |
| Bob Knepper | HOU | 3.88 | 198110040_HOU_LAN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Lollar | SDN | -4.38 | 198110032_SDN_SFN |
| Mark Davis | PHI | -3.49 | 198110040_CHN_PHI |
| Rick Waits | CLE | -2.21 | 198110050_KCA_CLE |
| Floyd Bannister | SEA | -2 | 198110040_TOR_SEA |
| Frank Tanana | BOS | -1.32 | 198110030_BOS_CLE |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-10-05.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 6.6 | Nolan Ryan | 149.7 | HOU |
| +005+ | 5.24 | Fernando Valenzuela | 192.3 | LAN |
| +006+ | 5.19 | Steve McCatty | 185.7 | OAK |
| +007+ | 5.17 | Bob Knepper | 157.7 | HOU |
| +008+ | 5.14 | Steve Carlton | 190 | PHI |
| +012+ | 4.44 | Jerry Reuss | 152.3 | LAN |
| +015+ | 4.24 | Burt Hooton | 142.3 | LAN |
| +016+ | 4.08 | Tom Seaver | 166.3 | CIN |
| +018+ | 3.93 | Dave Righetti | 105.7 | NYA |
| +020+ | 3.67 | Larry Gura | 172.3 | KCA |
| +023+ | 3.63 | Britt Burns | 157 | CHA |
| +024+ | 3.61 | Dennis Lamp | 127 | CHA |
| +026+ | 3.54 | Don Sutton | 158.3 | HOU |
| +029+ | 3.37 | Sammy Stewart | 113 | BAL |
| +031+ | 3.27 | Tommy John | 140 | NYA |
| +041+ | 3.03 | Bill Gullickson | 157.7 | WAS |
| +043+ | 3 | Dennis Leonard | 201.7 | KCA |
| +044+ | 2.92 | Joe Niekro | 166 | HOU |
| +047+ | 2.72 | Ken Forsch | 153.3 | ANA |
| +049+ | 2.71 | Al Holland | 101.7 | SFN |
| +051+ | 2.62 | Jack Morris | 198 | DET |
| +054+ | 2.59 | Ron Guidry | 127 | NYA |
| +058+ | 2.55 | Bert Blyleven | 159 | CLE |
| +059+ | 2.53 | Rick Langford | 196.7 | OAK |
| +066+ | 2.32 | Milt Wilcox | 167 | DET |
_