| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy John | NYA | 6.49 | 197908270_NYA_TEX |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 5.37 | 197908250_SLN_LAN |
| Joe Niekro | HOU | 3.89 | 197908250_HOU_PHI |
| Mike LaCoss | CIN | 3.6 | 197908270_CIN_PHI |
| Mike Flanagan | BAL | 2.95 | 197908261_BAL_CHA |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rich Gale | KCA | -5.1 | 197908270_MIL_KCA |
| Phil Huffman | TOR | -4.08 | 197908270_OAK_TOR |
| Mike Torrez | BOS | -2.36 | 197908250_BOS_KCA |
| Rob Dressler | SEA | -1.3 | 197908261_SEA_DET |
| Paul Hartzell | MIN | -1.14 | 197908271_BAL_MIN |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-08-27.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +008+ | 6.03 | Dennis Eckersley | 214.3 | BOS |
| +010+ | 5.75 | Ron Guidry | 184 | NYA |
| +012+ | 5.65 | Steve Rogers | 197.3 | WAS |
| +013+ | 5.58 | Tommy John | 218 | NYA |
| +015+ | 5.3 | Mike LaCoss | 185.7 | CIN |
| +018+ | 5.25 | J.R. Richard | 234.3 | HOU |
| +017+ | 5.25 | Burt Hooton | 204.7 | LAN |
| +019+ | 5.21 | Joe Niekro | 211.7 | HOU |
| +028+ | 4.42 | Joaquin Andujar | 172 | HOU |
| +033+ | 4.2 | Tom Seaver | 174 | CIN |
| +039+ | 4.06 | Mike Marshall | 120 | MIN |
| +041+ | 3.9 | Gaylord Perry | 216.7 | SDN |
| +047+ | 3.67 | Bill Lee | 171.7 | WAS |
| +050+ | 3.52 | Jerry Koosman | 209.3 | MIN |
| +053+ | 3.28 | Craig Swan | 208 | NYN |
| +057+ | 3.25 | Mike Flanagan | 210.7 | BAL |
| +062+ | 3.12 | Mike Caldwell | 192 | MIL |
| +063+ | 3.11 | Dan Schatzeder | 125.3 | WAS |
| +068+ | 2.91 | Phil Niekro | 267 | ATL |
| +072+ | 2.82 | Rick Reuschel | 188 | CHN |
| +075+ | 2.77 | Jim Slaton | 179.3 | MIL |
| +076+ | 2.71 | Nolan Ryan | 173 | ANA |
| +078+ | 2.69 | Jim Palmer | 121.3 | BAL |
| +083+ | 2.6 | Jim Bibby | 101.3 | PIT |
| +087+ | 2.53 | Dave Frost | 200 | ANA |
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