| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Huffman | TOR | -4.14 | 197908010_TOR_KCA |
| Vida Blue | SFN | -2.71 | 197908010_SFN_HOU |
| Rich Gale | KCA | -2.65 | 197908010_TOR_KCA |
| Dock Ellis | NYN | -2.16 | 197908010_PHI_NYN |
| Eddie Solomon | ATL | -2.01 | 197908010_SDN_ATL |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-08-02.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +005+ | 6.21 | Steve Rogers | 173 | WAS |
| +008+ | 5.43 | Ron Guidry | 151.7 | NYA |
| +009+ | 5.39 | Tommy John | 180.3 | NYA |
| +010+ | 5.38 | Gaylord Perry | 189.3 | SDN |
| +012+ | 4.81 | Nolan Ryan | 150.3 | ANA |
| +016+ | 4.46 | Jim Slaton | 152.3 | MIL |
| +018+ | 4.25 | Mike LaCoss | 145 | CIN |
| +019+ | 4.16 | Dennis Eckersley | 173.3 | BOS |
| +025+ | 3.91 | Burt Hooton | 166.7 | LAN |
| +027+ | 3.73 | Joaquin Andujar | 136 | HOU |
| +035+ | 3.45 | Bob Shirley | 124 | SDN |
| +041+ | 3.25 | Craig Swan | 174.7 | NYN |
| +044+ | 3.16 | Joe Niekro | 174.7 | HOU |
| +050+ | 2.95 | Silvio Martinez | 136.3 | SLN |
| +055+ | 2.78 | Ken Forsch | 130.3 | HOU |
| +063+ | 2.53 | Dave Lemanczyk | 141.3 | TOR |
| +071+ | 2.31 | Steve Comer | 159.7 | TEX |
| +073+ | 2.29 | Phil Niekro | 217 | ATL |
| +076+ | 2.2 | Dennis Martinez | 204.3 | BAL |
| +075+ | 2.2 | Mike Caldwell | 166.3 | MIL |
| +078+ | 2.14 | Tom Hausman | 53 | NYN |
| +083+ | 2.09 | Rick Wise | 146.7 | CLE |
| +085+ | 2.08 | Jim Palmer | 107 | BAL |
| +094+ | 1.95 | Tom Seaver | 134 | CIN |
| +095+ | 1.93 | Geoff Zahn | 97.3 | MIN |
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