| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Guidry | NYA | 8.11 | 197908190_MIN_NYA |
| Dennis Eckersley | BOS | 7.29 | 197908190_CHA_BOS |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 5.38 | 197908190_LAN_PIT |
| Craig Swan | NYN | 3.79 | 197908200_HOU_NYN |
| Gaylord Perry | SDN | 3.57 | 197908200_SDN_SLN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Paxton | CLE | -5.39 | 197908210_CLE_ANA |
| Dock Ellis | NYN | -4.88 | 197908190_NYN_CIN |
| Phil Huffman | TOR | -4.44 | 197908210_TOR_SEA |
| Rich Gale | KCA | -3.59 | 197908200_NYA_KCA |
| Roger Erickson | MIN | -2.56 | 197908200_BOS_MIN |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-08-21.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +007+ | 6.07 | Dennis Eckersley | 206.3 | BOS |
| +008+ | 5.98 | Steve Rogers | 196.3 | WAS |
| +009+ | 5.96 | Ron Guidry | 177.3 | NYA |
| +011+ | 5.55 | Tommy John | 211 | NYA |
| +014+ | 5.32 | Burt Hooton | 198.3 | LAN |
| +016+ | 4.9 | Joe Niekro | 206 | HOU |
| +018+ | 4.69 | Joaquin Andujar | 168 | HOU |
| +020+ | 4.66 | Mike LaCoss | 169.7 | CIN |
| +029+ | 4.22 | Nolan Ryan | 164.7 | ANA |
| +038+ | 3.88 | Mike Marshall | 118 | MIN |
| +040+ | 3.77 | Bob Shirley | 155.3 | SDN |
| +043+ | 3.74 | Mike Flanagan | 201.7 | BAL |
| +044+ | 3.71 | Gaylord Perry | 208 | SDN |
| +048+ | 3.57 | J.R. Richard | 216.3 | HOU |
| +049+ | 3.56 | Jim Slaton | 176.3 | MIL |
| +050+ | 3.56 | Craig Swan | 204 | NYN |
| +053+ | 3.38 | Tom Seaver | 165 | CIN |
| +060+ | 3.12 | Dan Schatzeder | 125.3 | WAS |
| +062+ | 2.96 | Bill Lee | 164 | WAS |
| +066+ | 2.78 | Jerry Koosman | 201.3 | MIN |
| +070+ | 2.72 | Mike Caldwell | 183 | MIL |
| +077+ | 2.51 | Phil Niekro | 258 | ATL |
| +088+ | 2.39 | Nino Espinosa | 173 | PHI |
| +090+ | 2.36 | Ken Forsch | 134.3 | HOU |
| +091+ | 2.35 | Jim Bibby | 91 | PIT |
_