| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dock Ellis | PIT | -6.2 | 197909242_WAS_PIT |
| Phil Huffman | TOR | -5.41 | 197909230_NYA_TOR |
| Mike Torrez | BOS | -2.04 | 197909232_DET_BOS |
| Larry McWilliams | ATL | -1.76 | 197909241_HOU_ATL |
| Larry Gura | KCA | -1.59 | 197909240_KCA_ANA |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-09-25.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +006+ | 7.99 | J.R. Richard | 285.3 | HOU |
| +013+ | 6.52 | Ron Guidry | 224.3 | NYA |
| +014+ | 6.37 | Joe Niekro | 254.3 | HOU |
| +016+ | 6.34 | Tommy John | 267.7 | NYA |
| +020+ | 5.67 | Dennis Eckersley | 247 | BOS |
| +022+ | 5.56 | Steve Rogers | 236.7 | WAS |
| +023+ | 5.32 | Mike Flanagan | 258.7 | BAL |
| +027+ | 5.03 | Burt Hooton | 212 | LAN |
| +028+ | 4.8 | Gaylord Perry | 232.7 | SDN |
| +034+ | 4.52 | Phil Niekro | 324 | ATL |
| +037+ | 4.44 | John Fulgham | 144.3 | SLN |
| +040+ | 4.37 | Dan Schatzeder | 162 | WAS |
| +045+ | 4.14 | Mike Marshall | 139 | MIN |
| +046+ | 4.14 | Bill Lee | 214.3 | WAS |
| +050+ | 4.06 | Craig Swan | 246 | NYN |
| +052+ | 3.88 | Tom Seaver | 207 | CIN |
| +061+ | 3.65 | Ken Forsch | 170.7 | HOU |
| +062+ | 3.56 | Rudy May | 93.7 | WAS |
| +066+ | 3.52 | John Candelaria | 206.7 | PIT |
| +077+ | 3.2 | David Palmer | 112.7 | WAS |
| +080+ | 3.14 | Mike Caldwell | 226 | MIL |
| +081+ | 3.12 | Jim Palmer | 150.3 | BAL |
| +082+ | 3.11 | Jerry Koosman | 247.3 | MIN |
| +089+ | 2.98 | Rick Reuschel | 235 | CHN |
| +090+ | 2.9 | Dave Frost | 235.3 | ANA |
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