| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Guidry | NYA | 8.11 | 197908190_MIN_NYA |
| Steve Rogers | WAS | 8.05 | 197908180_ATL_WAS |
| Dennis Eckersley | BOS | 7.29 | 197908190_CHA_BOS |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 5.38 | 197908190_LAN_PIT |
| Nolan Ryan | ANA | 3.68 | 197908180_TOR_ANA |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dock Ellis | NYN | -4.88 | 197908190_NYN_CIN |
| Moose Haas | MIL | -3.33 | 197908170_TEX_MIL |
| Vida Blue | SFN | -2.59 | 197908180_SFN_SLN |
| Rick Waits | CLE | -2.04 | 197908190_CLE_OAK |
| John Denny | SLN | -1.54 | 197908190_SFN_SLN |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-08-19.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +007+ | 6.03 | Dennis Eckersley | 206.3 | BOS |
| +008+ | 5.96 | Steve Rogers | 196.3 | WAS |
| +009+ | 5.95 | Ron Guidry | 177.3 | NYA |
| +012+ | 5.31 | Tommy John | 204 | NYA |
| +013+ | 5.3 | Burt Hooton | 198.3 | LAN |
| +017+ | 4.67 | Joaquin Andujar | 168 | HOU |
| +018+ | 4.65 | Mike LaCoss | 169.7 | CIN |
| +025+ | 4.38 | Gaylord Perry | 201.7 | SDN |
| +027+ | 4.25 | Joe Niekro | 197 | HOU |
| +029+ | 4.21 | Nolan Ryan | 164.7 | ANA |
| +031+ | 4.07 | Craig Swan | 196 | NYN |
| +037+ | 3.82 | Mike Marshall | 117.3 | MIN |
| +045+ | 3.56 | Jim Slaton | 176.3 | MIL |
| +046+ | 3.54 | J.R. Richard | 216.3 | HOU |
| +055+ | 3.13 | Tom Seaver | 158 | CIN |
| +057+ | 3.04 | Bob Shirley | 145.3 | SDN |
| +058+ | 3.03 | Dan Schatzeder | 120 | WAS |
| +062+ | 2.94 | Bill Lee | 164 | WAS |
| +064+ | 2.89 | Mike Flanagan | 192.7 | BAL |
| +071+ | 2.72 | Mike Caldwell | 183 | MIL |
| +074+ | 2.59 | Fred Norman | 150 | CIN |
| +085+ | 2.36 | John Fulgham | 84.7 | SLN |
| +087+ | 2.35 | Jim Bibby | 91 | PIT |
| +088+ | 2.34 | Jerry Koosman | 192.3 | MIN |
| +089+ | 2.34 | Ken Forsch | 134.3 | HOU |
_