| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Caldwell | MIL | 8.87 | 197809190_MIL_NYA |
| Jim Palmer | BAL | 6.59 | 197809190_BAL_CLE |
| Jon Matlack | TEX | 5.86 | 197809170_OAK_TEX |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 3.37 | 197809170_ATL_LAN |
| Phil Niekro | ATL | 3.25 | 197809170_ATL_LAN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nino Espinosa | NYN | -2.64 | 197809190_NYN_SLN |
| Ray Burris | CHN | -1.89 | 197809170_SLN_CHN |
| Bill Travers | MIL | -1.43 | 197809180_MIL_NYA |
| Byron McLaughlin | SEA | -1.32 | 197809170_CHA_SEA |
| Steve Stone | CHA | -1.15 | 197809191_CHA_OAK |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1978-09-19.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +001+ | 11.34 | Ron Guidry | 247.7 | NYA |
| +003+ | 9.39 | Mike Caldwell | 278 | MIL |
| +006+ | 7.76 | Jim Palmer | 279 | BAL |
| +007+ | 7.21 | Jon Matlack | 244 | TEX |
| +016+ | 5.77 | Phil Niekro | 309.3 | ATL |
| +017+ | 5.7 | Dave Goltz | 202.3 | MIN |
| +018+ | 5.57 | Craig Swan | 193.3 | NYN |
| +021+ | 5.43 | Burt Hooton | 221 | LAN |
| +025+ | 5.21 | Pete Vuckovich | 186.3 | SLN |
| +026+ | 5.15 | Randy Jones | 248 | SDN |
| +030+ | 4.73 | Gaylord Perry | 236 | SDN |
| +032+ | 4.69 | Bob Knepper | 242 | SFN |
| +034+ | 4.6 | Vida Blue | 236 | SFN |
| +038+ | 4.32 | Steve Comer | 99.7 | TEX |
| +039+ | 4.31 | Steve Carlton | 231.3 | PHI |
| +040+ | 4.28 | Tom Seaver | 236.3 | CIN |
| +043+ | 4.04 | Bert Blyleven | 228.3 | PIT |
| +052+ | 3.58 | Ed Figueroa | 233 | NYA |
| +054+ | 3.52 | Larry Gura | 200.7 | KCA |
| +055+ | 3.48 | Ferguson Jenkins | 227.3 | TEX |
| +058+ | 3.33 | Rich Gale | 186.3 | KCA |
| +059+ | 3.33 | Bob Welch | 99.3 | LAN |
| +062+ | 3.15 | J.R. Richard | 263.3 | HOU |
| +063+ | 3.12 | John Denny | 218 | SLN |
| +065+ | 3.09 | Dave Rozema | 186.3 | DET |
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