| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Reuss | LAN | 7.68 | 198108210_LAN_SLN |
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 5.32 | 198108230_HOU_PHI |
| Jim Bibby | PIT | 5.25 | 198108212_SDN_PIT |
| Joe Niekro | HOU | 4.14 | 198108220_HOU_PHI |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 4.07 | 198108230_NYN_CIN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rich Gale | KCA | -3.62 | 198108230_KCA_NYA |
| Ken Clay | SEA | -3.23 | 198108230_BOS_SEA |
| Tim Lollar | SDN | -3.08 | 198108212_SDN_PIT |
| Ken Kravec | CHN | -2.29 | 198108210_SFN_CHN |
| Jim Clancy | TOR | -1.66 | 198108220_CHA_TOR |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-08-23.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 4.87 | Nolan Ryan | 91.7 | HOU |
| +004+ | 4.07 | Jerry Reuss | 101.3 | LAN |
| +005+ | 3.82 | Bob Knepper | 104.3 | HOU |
| +008+ | 3.37 | Vida Blue | 101.7 | SFN |
| +010+ | 2.9 | Tom Seaver | 107.3 | CIN |
| +011+ | 2.9 | Sammy Stewart | 69 | BAL |
| +014+ | 2.73 | Fernando Valenzuela | 128 | LAN |
| +018+ | 2.64 | Steve McCatty | 112 | OAK |
| +020+ | 2.54 | Steve Carlton | 127 | PHI |
| +021+ | 2.5 | Britt Burns | 102 | CHA |
| +027+ | 2.39 | Ken Forsch | 123.7 | ANA |
| +029+ | 2.31 | Jim Bibby | 88.7 | PIT |
| +028+ | 2.31 | Scott Sanderson | 87.3 | WAS |
| +031+ | 2.3 | Bert Blyleven | 122 | CLE |
| +032+ | 2.29 | Burt Hooton | 92.7 | LAN |
| +043+ | 2.1 | Rick Langford | 126 | OAK |
| +044+ | 2.05 | Doug Bird | 75.3 | TOT |
| +045+ | 2.04 | Rick Honeycutt | 86.7 | TEX |
| +046+ | 2.02 | Dennis Lamp | 56.3 | CHA |
| +047+ | 2.01 | Jack Morris | 123 | DET |
| +053+ | 1.88 | Dave Righetti | 49.7 | NYA |
| +054+ | 1.87 | Jim Palmer | 91.7 | BAL |
| +055+ | 1.83 | Steve Trout | 89 | CHA |
| +064+ | 1.72 | Milt Wilcox | 104.7 | DET |
| +072+ | 1.58 | Fred Breining | 47 | SFN |
_