| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moose Haas | MIL | -4.04 | 197906300_SEA_MIL |
| Phil Huffman | TOR | -3.84 | 197906292_TOR_BAL |
| Glenn Abbott | SEA | -3.45 | 197906290_SEA_MIL |
| Matt Keough | OAK | -2.13 | 197906290_OAK_TEX |
| Pete Falcone | NYN | -1.63 | 197907012_NYN_CHN |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-07-01.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 5.14 | Gaylord Perry | 138 | SDN |
| +003+ | 5.13 | Tommy John | 139.7 | NYA |
| +004+ | 5.09 | Ron Guidry | 105.7 | NYA |
| +009+ | 4.27 | Mike LaCoss | 111.7 | CIN |
| +010+ | 4.04 | Steve Rogers | 125.3 | WAS |
| +017+ | 3.49 | Joe Niekro | 136.7 | HOU |
| +019+ | 3.38 | Jim Slaton | 112.7 | MIL |
| +021+ | 3.32 | Nolan Ryan | 118.3 | ANA |
| +026+ | 3.03 | Joaquin Andujar | 95.7 | HOU |
| +029+ | 2.92 | Silvio Martinez | 96.3 | SLN |
| +033+ | 2.75 | Burt Hooton | 126 | LAN |
| +043+ | 2.53 | Bob Shirley | 84 | SDN |
| +042+ | 2.53 | Mike Parrott | 94.7 | SEA |
| +048+ | 2.45 | Randy Niemann | 44.3 | HOU |
| +049+ | 2.44 | Ken Forsch | 80.3 | HOU |
| +050+ | 2.44 | Dave Lemanczyk | 111.3 | TOR |
| +055+ | 2.38 | Jack Billingham | 99.7 | DET |
| +056+ | 2.29 | J.R. Richard | 135 | HOU |
| +057+ | 2.28 | Mike Caldwell | 125.3 | MIL |
| +058+ | 2.25 | Dan Schatzeder | 57.3 | WAS |
| +059+ | 2.24 | Ken Kravec | 126.3 | CHA |
| +061+ | 2.18 | Pete Vuckovich | 109 | SLN |
| +063+ | 2.16 | Bill Travers | 91 | MIL |
| +064+ | 2.16 | Lary Sorensen | 130.7 | MIL |
| +066+ | 2.1 | Sammy Stewart | 67.3 | BAL |
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