| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy John | NYA | 8.18 | 197908100_NYA_BAL |
| Gaylord Perry | SDN | 7.11 | 197908121_CIN_SDN |
| Mike LaCoss | CIN | 3.45 | 197908122_CIN_SDN |
| Craig Swan | NYN | 3.29 | 197908101_WAS_NYN |
| Joe Niekro | HOU | 2.01 | 197908100_HOU_ATL |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Paxton | CLE | -5.1 | 197908110_CLE_TEX |
| Roger Erickson | MIN | -4.05 | 197908102_OAK_MIN |
| Vida Blue | SFN | -3.44 | 197908120_LAN_SFN |
| Rich Gale | KCA | -3.4 | 197908101_DET_KCA |
| Moose Haas | MIL | -2.97 | 197908110_MIL_BOS |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-08-12.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +008+ | 5.61 | Steve Rogers | 183 | WAS |
| +009+ | 5.52 | Ron Guidry | 160.7 | NYA |
| +011+ | 5.3 | Dennis Eckersley | 191.3 | BOS |
| +012+ | 5.28 | Tommy John | 196 | NYA |
| +014+ | 4.83 | Nolan Ryan | 150.3 | ANA |
| +015+ | 4.76 | Gaylord Perry | 196.7 | SDN |
| +018+ | 4.53 | Mike LaCoss | 160.7 | CIN |
| +023+ | 4.24 | Burt Hooton | 180.7 | LAN |
| +026+ | 4.12 | Craig Swan | 189.3 | NYN |
| +028+ | 4.1 | Joe Niekro | 190 | HOU |
| +031+ | 3.95 | Joaquin Andujar | 150.7 | HOU |
| +051+ | 3.11 | Bob Shirley | 139.3 | SDN |
| +055+ | 2.98 | Tom Seaver | 151 | CIN |
| +064+ | 2.76 | Phil Niekro | 242 | ATL |
| +065+ | 2.75 | Fred Norman | 146.3 | CIN |
| +070+ | 2.69 | Jim Bibby | 80.7 | PIT |
| +073+ | 2.59 | Dan Schatzeder | 115 | WAS |
| +081+ | 2.41 | Ken Forsch | 134.3 | HOU |
| +083+ | 2.37 | J.R. Richard | 198.3 | HOU |
| +085+ | 2.33 | Dave Frost | 179.3 | ANA |
| +086+ | 2.33 | Bill Lee | 150.3 | WAS |
| +087+ | 2.29 | Mike Caldwell | 166.3 | MIL |
| +088+ | 2.24 | Silvio Martinez | 150 | SLN |
| +090+ | 2.2 | Dave Lemanczyk | 141.7 | TOR |
| +092+ | 2.18 | Mike Flanagan | 180.7 | BAL |
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