| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Reuss | LAN | 7.68 | 198108210_LAN_SLN |
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 7.09 | 198108190_WAS_HOU |
| Scott Sanderson | WAS | 5.65 | 198108190_WAS_HOU |
| Jim Bibby | PIT | 5.25 | 198108212_SDN_PIT |
| Tommy John | NYA | 3.72 | 198108190_CHA_NYA |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Lollar | SDN | -3.08 | 198108212_SDN_PIT |
| Mike Krukow | CHN | -2.59 | 198108190_LAN_CHN |
| Jerry Gleaton | SEA | -1.98 | 198108190_CLE_SEA |
| Nino Espinosa | PHI | -1.63 | 198108210_HOU_PHI |
| Dan Schatzeder | DET | -1.16 | 198108190_MIN_DET |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-08-21.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +001+ | 4.83 | Nolan Ryan | 91.7 | HOU |
| +003+ | 4.63 | Bob Knepper | 99.3 | HOU |
| +005+ | 4.04 | Jerry Reuss | 101.3 | LAN |
| +009+ | 2.69 | Vida Blue | 93.7 | SFN |
| +011+ | 2.61 | Steve McCatty | 112 | OAK |
| +012+ | 2.59 | Tom Seaver | 98.7 | CIN |
| +017+ | 2.46 | Sammy Stewart | 64 | BAL |
| +022+ | 2.39 | Ken Forsch | 123.7 | ANA |
| +021+ | 2.39 | Fernando Valenzuela | 119.3 | LAN |
| +025+ | 2.29 | Jim Bibby | 88.7 | PIT |
| +027+ | 2.28 | Scott Sanderson | 87.3 | WAS |
| +028+ | 2.27 | Burt Hooton | 92.7 | LAN |
| +037+ | 2.04 | Joe Niekro | 108.7 | HOU |
| +038+ | 2.01 | Dennis Lamp | 56.3 | CHA |
| +040+ | 2.01 | Jack Morris | 123 | DET |
| +043+ | 1.94 | Steve Carlton | 120 | PHI |
| +044+ | 1.93 | Bert Blyleven | 115 | CLE |
| +047+ | 1.87 | Dave Righetti | 49.7 | NYA |
| +049+ | 1.85 | Jim Palmer | 91.7 | BAL |
| +052+ | 1.82 | Doug Bird | 67.3 | TOT |
| +057+ | 1.73 | Rick Honeycutt | 78.3 | TEX |
| +056+ | 1.73 | Britt Burns | 93 | CHA |
| +066+ | 1.63 | Milt Wilcox | 98.7 | DET |
| +072+ | 1.58 | Dave LaRoche | 33.7 | NYA |
| +073+ | 1.57 | Fred Breining | 47 | SFN |
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