| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Guidry | NYA | 5.9 | 197905020_NYA_ANA |
| J.R. Richard | HOU | 4.63 | 197905010_HOU_SLN |
| Gaylord Perry | SDN | 3.63 | 197905010_SDN_NYN |
| Dennis Leonard | KCA | 3.26 | 197905020_TEX_KCA |
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 3.07 | 197905030_PHI_LAN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Travers | MIL | -3.15 | 197905030_TOR_MIL |
| Tom Underwood | TOR | -2.99 | 197905030_TOR_MIL |
| Wayne Twitchell | NYN | -2.25 | 197905010_SDN_NYN |
| Ken Holtzman | CHN | -1.93 | 197905010_CHN_CIN |
| Mickey Mahler | ATL | -1.47 | 197905020_ATL_PIT |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-05-03.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +001+ | 2.75 | Tommy John | 42.7 | NYA |
| +002+ | 2.32 | Mike Caldwell | 44 | MIL |
| +004+ | 2.05 | Nino Espinosa | 34 | PHI |
| +006+ | 1.92 | Phil Niekro | 55.7 | ATL |
| +011+ | 1.66 | Ken Forsch | 47.3 | HOU |
| +014+ | 1.51 | Craig Swan | 45 | NYN |
| +015+ | 1.5 | Ron Guidry | 45 | NYA |
| +017+ | 1.49 | Jim Slaton | 28.7 | MIL |
| +021+ | 1.45 | Joaquin Andujar | 24.7 | HOU |
| +020+ | 1.45 | Pete Vuckovich | 40 | SLN |
| +022+ | 1.42 | Dick Ruthven | 38.7 | PHI |
| +023+ | 1.42 | Ferguson Jenkins | 43.7 | TEX |
| +026+ | 1.35 | Burt Hooton | 39.3 | LAN |
| +030+ | 1.26 | Don Sutton | 40.7 | LAN |
| XXXXX | 1.25 | J.R. Richard | 40.7 | HOU |
| XXXXX | 1.21 | Dennis Leonard | 47 | KCA |
| XXXXX | 1.21 | Nolan Ryan | 38 | ANA |
| XXXXX | 1.14 | Rick Sutcliffe | 30.3 | LAN |
| XXXXX | 1.13 | Don Robinson | 33.3 | PIT |
| XXXXX | 1.1 | Dennis Lamp | 25.3 | CHN |
| XXXXX | 1.03 | Vern Ruhle | 36 | HOU |
| XXXXX | 1.03 | Dave Lemanczyk | 28.3 | TOR |
| XXXXX | 1.01 | Steve Comer | 39.3 | TEX |
| XXXXX | 0.98 | Mike LaCoss | 28.7 | CIN |
| XXXXX | 0.98 | Bob Knepper | 41.3 | SFN |
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