| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 8.24 | 198108250_HOU_NYN |
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 5.32 | 198108230_HOU_PHI |
| Scott Sanderson | WAS | 4.16 | 198108250_CIN_WAS |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 4.07 | 198108230_NYN_CIN |
| Tommy John | NYA | 3.45 | 198108240_MIN_NYA |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rich Gale | KCA | -3.62 | 198108230_KCA_NYA |
| Ken Clay | SEA | -3.23 | 198108230_BOS_SEA |
| Mike LaCoss | CIN | -3.19 | 198108250_CIN_WAS |
| Tim Lollar | SDN | -2.87 | 198108250_SDN_CHN |
| Ken Kravec | CHN | -2.45 | 198108250_SDN_CHN |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-08-25.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +001+ | 5.49 | Nolan Ryan | 98.7 | HOU |
| +004+ | 4.07 | Jerry Reuss | 101.3 | LAN |
| +005+ | 3.86 | Bob Knepper | 104.3 | HOU |
| +007+ | 3.39 | Vida Blue | 101.7 | SFN |
| +009+ | 3.04 | Burt Hooton | 101.7 | LAN |
| +012+ | 2.98 | Steve McCatty | 121 | OAK |
| +013+ | 2.94 | Tom Seaver | 107.3 | CIN |
| +014+ | 2.92 | Scott Sanderson | 94.3 | WAS |
| +018+ | 2.73 | Fernando Valenzuela | 128 | LAN |
| +017+ | 2.73 | Sammy Stewart | 69.7 | BAL |
| +025+ | 2.59 | Dennis Lamp | 65.3 | CHA |
| +026+ | 2.54 | Britt Burns | 102 | CHA |
| +027+ | 2.5 | Steve Carlton | 127 | PHI |
| +030+ | 2.4 | Ken Forsch | 123.7 | ANA |
| +032+ | 2.35 | Bert Blyleven | 122 | CLE |
| +034+ | 2.32 | Jim Bibby | 88.7 | PIT |
| +045+ | 2.13 | Rick Langford | 126 | OAK |
| +049+ | 2.06 | Rick Honeycutt | 86.7 | TEX |
| +050+ | 2.04 | Doug Bird | 75.3 | TOT |
| +052+ | 1.99 | Jack Morris | 130 | DET |
| +058+ | 1.87 | Dave Righetti | 49.7 | NYA |
| +059+ | 1.86 | Steve Trout | 89 | CHA |
| +065+ | 1.76 | Len Barker | 112.3 | CLE |
| +066+ | 1.73 | Milt Wilcox | 104.7 | DET |
| +067+ | 1.73 | Doyle Alexander | 99.3 | SFN |
_