| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| J.R. Richard | HOU | 6.15 | 197909160_HOU_SFN |
| Tommy John | NYA | 5.97 | 197909151_DET_NYA |
| Dan Schatzeder | WAS | 2.52 | 197909151_SLN_WAS |
| John Candelaria | PIT | 2.14 | 197909160_NYN_PIT |
| John Fulgham | SLN | 1.76 | 197909152_SLN_WAS |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Keough | OAK | -4.13 | 197909160_OAK_CHA |
| John Denny | SLN | -3.74 | 197909162_SLN_WAS |
| Roger Erickson | MIN | -3.12 | 197909160_MIN_TEX |
| Moose Haas | MIL | -2.92 | 197909150_ANA_MIL |
| Ross Grimsley | WAS | -2.13 | 197909161_SLN_WAS |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-09-16.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +008+ | 6.72 | J.R. Richard | 265.3 | HOU |
| +012+ | 6.22 | Steve Rogers | 224.3 | WAS |
| +016+ | 5.82 | Ron Guidry | 216.3 | NYA |
| +017+ | 5.69 | Tommy John | 251 | NYA |
| +021+ | 5.15 | Joe Niekro | 237.3 | HOU |
| +022+ | 5.12 | Burt Hooton | 212 | LAN |
| +023+ | 4.91 | Gaylord Perry | 232.7 | SDN |
| +024+ | 4.9 | Dennis Eckersley | 231 | BOS |
| +030+ | 4.49 | Mike Caldwell | 216.7 | MIL |
| +034+ | 4.35 | Mike Flanagan | 242.7 | BAL |
| +037+ | 4.19 | Phil Niekro | 308 | ATL |
| +038+ | 4.19 | Dan Schatzeder | 150 | WAS |
| +043+ | 4.03 | Bill Lee | 198.3 | WAS |
| +053+ | 3.73 | John Fulgham | 126.3 | SLN |
| +052+ | 3.73 | Mike Marshall | 134 | MIN |
| +057+ | 3.59 | Rick Reuschel | 226.3 | CHN |
| +058+ | 3.58 | Craig Swan | 230 | NYN |
| +059+ | 3.58 | John Candelaria | 206.7 | PIT |
| +063+ | 3.38 | Joaquin Andujar | 191.3 | HOU |
| +065+ | 3.37 | Tom Seaver | 198 | CIN |
| +068+ | 3.25 | Jim Slaton | 205.7 | MIL |
| +069+ | 3.22 | Rudy May | 80.3 | WAS |
| +070+ | 3.21 | Jerry Koosman | 236 | MIN |
| +072+ | 3.17 | Jim Palmer | 150.3 | BAL |
| +074+ | 3.1 | Ken Forsch | 154.7 | HOU |
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