| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy John | NYA | 8.18 | 197908100_NYA_BAL |
| Dennis Eckersley | BOS | 6.04 | 197908090_CLE_BOS |
| Craig Swan | NYN | 3.29 | 197908101_WAS_NYN |
| Joaquin Andujar | HOU | 2.41 | 197908090_HOU_LAN |
| Silvio Martinez | SLN | 1.96 | 197908101_CHN_SLN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Paxton | CLE | -5.1 | 197908110_CLE_TEX |
| Phil Huffman | TOR | -4.31 | 197908090_KCA_TOR |
| Roger Erickson | MIN | -4.05 | 197908102_OAK_MIN |
| Dock Ellis | NYN | -3.92 | 197908090_SLN_NYN |
| Rich Gale | KCA | -3.4 | 197908101_DET_KCA |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-08-11.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +008+ | 5.63 | Steve Rogers | 183 | WAS |
| +009+ | 5.61 | Gaylord Perry | 194.3 | SDN |
| +010+ | 5.54 | Ron Guidry | 160.7 | NYA |
| +012+ | 5.32 | Dennis Eckersley | 191.3 | BOS |
| +013+ | 5.31 | Tommy John | 196 | NYA |
| +015+ | 4.96 | Mike LaCoss | 154 | CIN |
| +016+ | 4.85 | Nolan Ryan | 150.3 | ANA |
| +022+ | 4.25 | Burt Hooton | 180.7 | LAN |
| +026+ | 4.14 | Craig Swan | 189.3 | NYN |
| +027+ | 4.11 | Joe Niekro | 190 | HOU |
| +032+ | 3.96 | Joaquin Andujar | 150.7 | HOU |
| +044+ | 3.46 | Bob Shirley | 134 | SDN |
| +056+ | 2.97 | Steve Comer | 167 | TEX |
| +064+ | 2.76 | Fred Norman | 146.3 | CIN |
| +068+ | 2.7 | Jim Bibby | 80.7 | PIT |
| +072+ | 2.61 | Dan Schatzeder | 115 | WAS |
| +073+ | 2.56 | Tom Seaver | 142 | CIN |
| +078+ | 2.44 | Tom Underwood | 161.3 | TOR |
| +079+ | 2.42 | Ken Forsch | 134.3 | HOU |
| +082+ | 2.38 | J.R. Richard | 198.3 | HOU |
| +084+ | 2.35 | Bill Lee | 150.3 | WAS |
| +086+ | 2.34 | Phil Niekro | 233 | ATL |
| +087+ | 2.31 | Mike Caldwell | 166.3 | MIL |
| +088+ | 2.25 | Silvio Martinez | 150 | SLN |
| +094+ | 2.21 | Mike Flanagan | 180.7 | BAL |
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