| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Rogers | WAS | 12.35 | 197907070_LAN_WAS |
| Gaylord Perry | SDN | 7.71 | 197907081_SDN_NYN |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 4.65 | 197907070_LAN_WAS |
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 2.93 | 197907080_SFN_PHI |
| Nolan Ryan | ANA | 2.91 | 197907090_BOS_ANA |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Paxton | CLE | -2.8 | 197907070_MIN_CLE |
| Matt Keough | OAK | -2.26 | 197907090_BAL_OAK |
| Vida Blue | SFN | -1.71 | 197907090_SFN_PHI |
| Steve Baker | DET | -1.61 | 197907090_MIN_DET |
| Ken Holtzman | CHN | -1.56 | 197907071_HOU_CHN |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-07-09.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +001+ | 6.48 | Tommy John | 157.7 | NYA |
| +005+ | 5.57 | Gaylord Perry | 156 | SDN |
| +006+ | 5.43 | Steve Rogers | 143.3 | WAS |
| +007+ | 5.42 | Ron Guidry | 114.7 | NYA |
| +009+ | 4.71 | Mike LaCoss | 119.7 | CIN |
| +014+ | 4.28 | Nolan Ryan | 136.3 | ANA |
| +018+ | 3.75 | Joe Niekro | 144.3 | HOU |
| +024+ | 3.25 | Burt Hooton | 141 | LAN |
| +025+ | 3.24 | Joaquin Andujar | 102.7 | HOU |
| +036+ | 2.79 | Jim Slaton | 118.3 | MIL |
| +038+ | 2.78 | Bob Shirley | 97 | SDN |
| +039+ | 2.68 | Dave Lemanczyk | 119.3 | TOR |
| +040+ | 2.63 | Mike Caldwell | 143.3 | MIL |
| +054+ | 2.4 | Craig Swan | 137.7 | NYN |
| +059+ | 2.27 | Bill Travers | 104 | MIL |
| +062+ | 2.19 | Lary Sorensen | 145.3 | MIL |
| +063+ | 2.19 | Dan Schatzeder | 66 | WAS |
| +064+ | 2.18 | Steve Comer | 133 | TEX |
| +067+ | 2.14 | Sammy Stewart | 72.3 | BAL |
| +068+ | 2.14 | Nino Espinosa | 111.3 | PHI |
| +069+ | 2.12 | Tom Hume | 101 | CIN |
| +070+ | 2.08 | Fred Norman | 105 | CIN |
| +073+ | 2.02 | Jim Palmer | 107 | BAL |
| +076+ | 1.96 | Rick Williams | 77.7 | HOU |
| +078+ | 1.95 | Ken Forsch | 93.3 | HOU |
_