| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis Eckersley | BOS | 7.16 | 197908300_TEX_BOS |
| Tommy John | NYA | 6.17 | 197908310_KCA_NYA |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 4.8 | 197908300_CHN_LAN |
| J.R. Richard | HOU | 4.53 | 197909010_NYN_HOU |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 2.79 | 197909010_CIN_WAS |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Paxton | CLE | -5.9 | 197908310_ANA_CLE |
| Rich Gale | KCA | -5.59 | 197909010_KCA_NYA |
| Phil Huffman | TOR | -2.76 | 197909010_SEA_TOR |
| Mike Torrez | BOS | -1.44 | 197908310_TEX_BOS |
| Rob Dressler | SEA | -1.33 | 197908310_SEA_TOR |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-09-01.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +009+ | 6.12 | Ron Guidry | 192.3 | NYA |
| +010+ | 6.12 | J.R. Richard | 243.3 | HOU |
| +014+ | 5.63 | Tommy John | 225 | NYA |
| +016+ | 5.59 | Steve Rogers | 201.3 | WAS |
| +017+ | 5.56 | Dennis Eckersley | 220.3 | BOS |
| +019+ | 5.49 | Burt Hooton | 211.7 | LAN |
| +021+ | 5.3 | Mike LaCoss | 185.7 | CIN |
| +023+ | 4.96 | Joe Niekro | 217.7 | HOU |
| +030+ | 4.43 | Gaylord Perry | 225.7 | SDN |
| +032+ | 4.22 | Mike Marshall | 128.3 | MIN |
| +036+ | 3.97 | Craig Swan | 215 | NYN |
| +039+ | 3.89 | Bill Lee | 178.7 | WAS |
| +044+ | 3.81 | Joaquin Andujar | 178.7 | HOU |
| +053+ | 3.48 | Mike Caldwell | 202 | MIL |
| +058+ | 3.29 | Jerry Koosman | 215.7 | MIN |
| +061+ | 3.26 | Dan Schatzeder | 127 | WAS |
| +062+ | 3.23 | Phil Niekro | 283 | ATL |
| +063+ | 3.23 | Jim Bibby | 110.3 | PIT |
| +065+ | 3.13 | Mike Flanagan | 218.3 | BAL |
| +071+ | 2.98 | Rick Reuschel | 200.3 | CHN |
| +070+ | 2.98 | John Candelaria | 178.3 | PIT |
| +072+ | 2.93 | John Fulgham | 102.7 | SLN |
| +073+ | 2.91 | Jim Palmer | 130.3 | BAL |
| +078+ | 2.86 | Tom Seaver | 175.3 | CIN |
| +079+ | 2.83 | Ken Forsch | 139.3 | HOU |
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