| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Guidry | NYA | 15.53 | 197809280_TOR_NYA |
| Jim Palmer | BAL | 8.02 | 197809280_CLE_BAL |
| Bob Knepper | SFN | 3.11 | 197809270_SDN_SFN |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 2.99 | 197809290_LAN_SDN |
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 2.39 | 197809292_PHI_PIT |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nino Espinosa | NYN | -4.04 | 197809291_NYN_CHN |
| Balor Moore | TOR | -2.35 | 197809280_TOR_NYA |
| Ray Burris | CHN | -1.86 | 197809270_CHN_PIT |
| Bill Travers | MIL | -1.54 | 197809290_MIL_OAK |
| John Urrea | SLN | -1.34 | 197809290_WAS_SLN |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1978-09-29.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +001+ | 12.07 | Ron Guidry | 267.3 | NYA |
| +003+ | 9.62 | Mike Caldwell | 287 | MIL |
| +005+ | 8.44 | Jim Palmer | 296 | BAL |
| +007+ | 7.89 | Jon Matlack | 261 | TEX |
| +014+ | 6.47 | Phil Niekro | 326.3 | ATL |
| +017+ | 6.12 | Bob Knepper | 260 | SFN |
| +018+ | 5.88 | Dave Goltz | 220.3 | MIN |
| +019+ | 5.85 | Craig Swan | 207.3 | NYN |
| +021+ | 5.7 | Gaylord Perry | 250.7 | SDN |
| +026+ | 5.44 | Vida Blue | 252 | SFN |
| +027+ | 5.38 | Burt Hooton | 236 | LAN |
| +032+ | 5 | Pete Vuckovich | 192.3 | SLN |
| +033+ | 4.91 | Steve Carlton | 247.3 | PHI |
| +034+ | 4.85 | Randy Jones | 253 | SDN |
| +037+ | 4.77 | Larry Gura | 218.7 | KCA |
| +039+ | 4.43 | Tom Seaver | 251.7 | CIN |
| +042+ | 4.07 | Bob Welch | 108.3 | LAN |
| +054+ | 3.73 | Bert Blyleven | 243.7 | PIT |
| +056+ | 3.68 | J.R. Richard | 275.3 | HOU |
| +058+ | 3.67 | Ed Halicki | 199 | SFN |
| +057+ | 3.67 | Steve Comer | 117.3 | TEX |
| +060+ | 3.61 | Ferguson Jenkins | 242.7 | TEX |
| +062+ | 3.49 | John Denny | 226 | SLN |
| +066+ | 3.42 | John D'Acquisto | 93 | SDN |
| +068+ | 3.34 | Bob Stanley | 141.3 | BOS |
_