| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Britt Burns | CHA | 5.89 | 198109060_TOR_CHA |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 5.64 | 198109070_SDN_CIN |
| Scott Sanderson | WAS | 4.4 | 198109080_WAS_PHI |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 3.84 | 198109080_SFN_LAN |
| Ken Forsch | ANA | 3.14 | 198109060_ANA_CLE |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Lerch | MIL | -1.85 | 198109070_MIL_NYA |
| Mike Torrez | BOS | -1.74 | 198109080_BOS_DET |
| Rick Waits | CLE | -1.74 | 198109070_CLE_BAL |
| Mark Davis | PHI | -1.72 | 198109070_WAS_PHI |
| Floyd Bannister | SEA | -1.43 | 198109080_SEA_CHA |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-09-08.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 5.97 | Nolan Ryan | 112.7 | HOU |
| +003+ | 5.11 | Bob Knepper | 127.7 | HOU |
| +005+ | 4.68 | Fernando Valenzuela | 156 | LAN |
| +006+ | 4.62 | Steve McCatty | 148 | OAK |
| +008+ | 4.08 | Steve Carlton | 149 | PHI |
| +009+ | 3.96 | Vida Blue | 122 | SFN |
| +015+ | 3.66 | Burt Hooton | 115.7 | LAN |
| +016+ | 3.46 | Sammy Stewart | 81.7 | BAL |
| +017+ | 3.39 | Dave Righetti | 72.7 | NYA |
| +019+ | 3.24 | Britt Burns | 121 | CHA |
| +020+ | 3.23 | Jerry Reuss | 118 | LAN |
| +023+ | 3.1 | Tom Seaver | 131.7 | CIN |
| +025+ | 3.07 | Ken Forsch | 147.3 | ANA |
| +033+ | 2.71 | Bert Blyleven | 146 | CLE |
| +035+ | 2.68 | Jack Morris | 156 | DET |
| +037+ | 2.58 | Dennis Lamp | 80.7 | CHA |
| +046+ | 2.31 | Tommy John | 102.3 | NYA |
| +049+ | 2.21 | Milt Wilcox | 128 | DET |
| +050+ | 2.2 | Doyle Alexander | 121 | SFN |
| +057+ | 2.07 | Bill Gullickson | 120.3 | WAS |
| +060+ | 2.05 | Scott Sanderson | 110 | WAS |
| +062+ | 2.03 | John Denny | 110 | CLE |
| +065+ | 1.95 | Ron Guidry | 103 | NYA |
| +067+ | 1.9 | Larry Gura | 133.7 | KCA |
| +069+ | 1.85 | Mike Jones | 44 | KCA |
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