| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Rogers | WAS | 6.92 | 197909170_PIT_WAS |
| J.R. Richard | HOU | 6.15 | 197909160_HOU_SFN |
| Tommy John | NYA | 5.97 | 197909151_DET_NYA |
| Dennis Eckersley | BOS | 4.02 | 197909171_BOS_TOR |
| Phil Niekro | ATL | 3.14 | 197909170_ATL_LAN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Keough | OAK | -4.13 | 197909160_OAK_CHA |
| Vida Blue | SFN | -3.77 | 197909170_CIN_SFN |
| John Denny | SLN | -3.74 | 197909162_SLN_WAS |
| Roger Erickson | MIN | -3.12 | 197909160_MIN_TEX |
| Moose Haas | MIL | -2.92 | 197909150_ANA_MIL |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-09-17.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +008+ | 6.7 | J.R. Richard | 265.3 | HOU |
| +010+ | 6.44 | Steve Rogers | 231.3 | WAS |
| +017+ | 5.98 | Joe Niekro | 246.3 | HOU |
| +018+ | 5.84 | Ron Guidry | 216.3 | NYA |
| +019+ | 5.7 | Tommy John | 251 | NYA |
| +022+ | 5.13 | Dennis Eckersley | 238 | BOS |
| +023+ | 5.11 | Burt Hooton | 212 | LAN |
| +024+ | 4.9 | Gaylord Perry | 232.7 | SDN |
| +034+ | 4.34 | Mike Flanagan | 242.7 | BAL |
| +038+ | 4.18 | Dan Schatzeder | 150 | WAS |
| +043+ | 4.02 | Phil Niekro | 315 | ATL |
| +042+ | 4.02 | Bill Lee | 198.3 | WAS |
| +048+ | 3.83 | Mike Caldwell | 221 | MIL |
| +053+ | 3.73 | Mike Marshall | 134 | MIN |
| +054+ | 3.72 | John Fulgham | 126.3 | SLN |
| +059+ | 3.58 | Rick Reuschel | 226.3 | CHN |
| +060+ | 3.57 | John Candelaria | 206.7 | PIT |
| +061+ | 3.57 | Craig Swan | 230 | NYN |
| +063+ | 3.38 | Tom Seaver | 198 | CIN |
| +064+ | 3.37 | Joaquin Andujar | 191.3 | HOU |
| +068+ | 3.24 | Jim Slaton | 205.7 | MIL |
| +069+ | 3.21 | Rudy May | 80.3 | WAS |
| +071+ | 3.17 | Jim Palmer | 150.3 | BAL |
| +073+ | 3.09 | Ken Forsch | 154.7 | HOU |
| +084+ | 2.88 | Jerry Koosman | 239.3 | MIN |
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