| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 8.17 | 198109110_PHI_PIT |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 4.87 | 198109110_CHA_MIN |
| Jerry Reuss | LAN | 4.85 | 198109110_LAN_CIN |
| Ken Forsch | ANA | 3.89 | 198109110_TEX_ANA |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 3.79 | 198109120_LAN_CIN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Clay | SEA | -2.98 | 198109100_SEA_TOR |
| Rick Waits | CLE | -2.88 | 198109110_CLE_DET |
| Randy Lerch | MIL | -2.15 | 198109120_BAL_MIL |
| Pete Redfern | MIN | -1.67 | 198109120_CHA_MIN |
| Geoff Zahn | ANA | -1.55 | 198109120_TEX_ANA |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-09-12.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 5.26 | Nolan Ryan | 116.7 | HOU |
| +004+ | 5.13 | Bob Knepper | 127.7 | HOU |
| +005+ | 4.68 | Steve Carlton | 156 | PHI |
| +006+ | 4.63 | Steve McCatty | 148 | OAK |
| +007+ | 4.3 | Fernando Valenzuela | 162.3 | LAN |
| +011+ | 3.76 | Dave Righetti | 79.7 | NYA |
| +013+ | 3.7 | Jerry Reuss | 124.3 | LAN |
| +015+ | 3.62 | Burt Hooton | 115.7 | LAN |
| +019+ | 3.42 | Sammy Stewart | 88.7 | BAL |
| +022+ | 3.16 | Vida Blue | 125 | SFN |
| +024+ | 3.01 | Britt Burns | 128 | CHA |
| +031+ | 2.75 | Ken Forsch | 153.3 | ANA |
| +032+ | 2.72 | Tom Seaver | 137.7 | CIN |
| +035+ | 2.65 | Bert Blyleven | 153 | CLE |
| +036+ | 2.65 | Tommy John | 111.3 | NYA |
| +037+ | 2.58 | Dennis Lamp | 88 | CHA |
| +044+ | 2.44 | John Denny | 117.7 | CLE |
| +050+ | 2.2 | Doyle Alexander | 121 | SFN |
| +053+ | 2.13 | Milt Wilcox | 128 | DET |
| +054+ | 2.12 | Rick Reuschel | 136.3 | TOT |
| +056+ | 2.1 | Larry Gura | 138.3 | KCA |
| +058+ | 2.08 | Joe Niekro | 139 | HOU |
| +059+ | 2.07 | Scott Sanderson | 110 | WAS |
| +063+ | 2.04 | Rick Honeycutt | 111.3 | TEX |
| +068+ | 1.99 | Bill Gullickson | 126.7 | WAS |
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