| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy John | NYA | 5.68 | 197909050_BOS_NYA |
| J.R. Richard | HOU | 5.51 | 197909060_SDN_HOU |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 4.75 | 197909040_LAN_HOU |
| Dan Schatzeder | WAS | 2.34 | 197909050_WAS_CHN |
| Phil Niekro | ATL | 1.89 | 197909050_LAN_ATL |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dock Ellis | NYN | -6.01 | 197909040_NYN_WAS |
| Matt Keough | OAK | -5.01 | 197909050_MIL_OAK |
| John Denny | SLN | -2.15 | 197909050_PIT_SLN |
| Mike Torrez | BOS | -1.51 | 197909040_BOS_NYA |
| Rob Dressler | SEA | -1.43 | 197909050_TEX_SEA |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-09-06.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +006+ | 6.86 | J.R. Richard | 252.3 | HOU |
| +011+ | 6.14 | Steve Rogers | 210.3 | WAS |
| +016+ | 5.73 | Tommy John | 234 | NYA |
| +017+ | 5.7 | Ron Guidry | 200 | NYA |
| +018+ | 5.5 | Joe Niekro | 226.7 | HOU |
| +021+ | 5.25 | Burt Hooton | 212 | LAN |
| +022+ | 5.02 | Gaylord Perry | 232.7 | SDN |
| +023+ | 4.81 | Dennis Eckersley | 222 | BOS |
| +036+ | 4.19 | Mike Marshall | 128.3 | MIN |
| +040+ | 4.03 | Joaquin Andujar | 186.3 | HOU |
| +041+ | 4.01 | Mike LaCoss | 185.7 | CIN |
| +043+ | 3.96 | Craig Swan | 215 | NYN |
| +046+ | 3.87 | Jerry Koosman | 224.7 | MIN |
| +048+ | 3.86 | Bill Lee | 183.7 | WAS |
| +050+ | 3.75 | Mike Caldwell | 207.7 | MIL |
| +051+ | 3.71 | John Fulgham | 111.7 | SLN |
| +053+ | 3.65 | Mike Flanagan | 227.3 | BAL |
| +055+ | 3.62 | Phil Niekro | 291 | ATL |
| +058+ | 3.48 | David Palmer | 98.3 | WAS |
| +061+ | 3.32 | Dan Schatzeder | 132.7 | WAS |
| +069+ | 3.12 | John Candelaria | 187.3 | PIT |
| +071+ | 3.1 | Rick Reuschel | 209 | CHN |
| +075+ | 2.96 | Dennis Martinez | 258.3 | BAL |
| +076+ | 2.95 | Tom Seaver | 183.3 | CIN |
| +077+ | 2.92 | Ken Forsch | 145.3 | HOU |
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