| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 8.82 | 198109271_PHI_CHN |
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 6.49 | 198109260_LAN_HOU |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 4.41 | 198109260_CHA_OAK |
| Jerry Reuss | LAN | 4.4 | 198109280_LAN_ATL |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 4.32 | 198109270_CIN_ATL |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dick Ruthven | PHI | -3.35 | 198109272_PHI_CHN |
| Rick Waits | CLE | -2.07 | 198109260_CLE_BOS |
| Frank Tanana | BOS | -1.98 | 198109280_BOS_MIL |
| Moose Haas | MIL | -1.98 | 198109260_MIL_DET |
| Ken Clay | SEA | -1.73 | 198109270_SEA_KCA |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-09-28.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +003+ | 6.04 | Nolan Ryan | 140.7 | HOU |
| +005+ | 5.45 | Steve Carlton | 183 | PHI |
| +006+ | 5.28 | Bob Knepper | 146.7 | HOU |
| +007+ | 4.96 | Steve McCatty | 177.7 | OAK |
| +009+ | 4.59 | Fernando Valenzuela | 184.3 | LAN |
| +011+ | 4.3 | Sammy Stewart | 111.3 | BAL |
| +013+ | 4.15 | Tom Seaver | 159.3 | CIN |
| +016+ | 3.92 | Jerry Reuss | 143.3 | LAN |
| +018+ | 3.84 | Dennis Lamp | 122 | CHA |
| +020+ | 3.68 | Burt Hooton | 130.3 | LAN |
| +021+ | 3.66 | Tommy John | 137.3 | NYA |
| +022+ | 3.6 | Larry Gura | 156.3 | KCA |
| +024+ | 3.57 | Britt Burns | 151 | CHA |
| +025+ | 3.57 | Don Sutton | 156.3 | HOU |
| +026+ | 3.32 | Dave Righetti | 98.7 | NYA |
| +029+ | 3.2 | Joe Niekro | 162 | HOU |
| +041+ | 2.77 | Bill Gullickson | 149.7 | WAS |
| +043+ | 2.75 | Ken Forsch | 153.3 | ANA |
| +046+ | 2.72 | Dan Petry | 136.7 | DET |
| +047+ | 2.63 | Al Holland | 87.7 | SFN |
| +049+ | 2.57 | Bert Blyleven | 159 | CLE |
| +060+ | 2.4 | Rick Langford | 187.3 | OAK |
| +061+ | 2.37 | Jim Bibby | 93.7 | PIT |
| +063+ | 2.36 | Scott Sanderson | 134.7 | WAS |
| +064+ | 2.35 | Ron Guidry | 117 | NYA |
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