| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| J.R. Richard | HOU | 6.71 | 197909250_HOU_ATL |
| Ron Guidry | NYA | 6.21 | 197909260_CLE_NYA |
| Steve Rogers | WAS | 4.36 | 197909260_WAS_PIT |
| Phil Niekro | ATL | 3.21 | 197909260_HOU_ATL |
| John Fulgham | SLN | 2.05 | 197909250_SLN_PHI |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dock Ellis | PIT | -6.2 | 197909242_WAS_PIT |
| Mike Paxton | CLE | -5.75 | 197909260_CLE_NYA |
| Moose Haas | MIL | -1.95 | 197909260_SEA_MIL |
| 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 1979-09-26.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +006+ | 8.02 | J.R. Richard | 285.3 | HOU |
| +012+ | 6.95 | Ron Guidry | 233.3 | NYA |
| +015+ | 6.35 | Tommy John | 267.7 | NYA |
| +019+ | 5.78 | Joe Niekro | 256.7 | HOU |
| +020+ | 5.68 | Dennis Eckersley | 247 | BOS |
| +022+ | 5.33 | Mike Flanagan | 258.7 | BAL |
| +023+ | 5.32 | Steve Rogers | 240.7 | WAS |
| +026+ | 5.04 | Burt Hooton | 212 | LAN |
| +028+ | 4.82 | Gaylord Perry | 232.7 | SDN |
| +029+ | 4.75 | Phil Niekro | 333 | ATL |
| +037+ | 4.46 | John Fulgham | 144.3 | SLN |
| +040+ | 4.39 | Dan Schatzeder | 162 | WAS |
| +044+ | 4.21 | Tom Seaver | 215 | CIN |
| +046+ | 4.18 | Mike Marshall | 141.7 | MIN |
| +047+ | 4.16 | Bill Lee | 214.3 | WAS |
| +049+ | 4.07 | Craig Swan | 246 | NYN |
| +059+ | 3.67 | Ken Forsch | 170.7 | HOU |
| +063+ | 3.57 | Rudy May | 93.7 | WAS |
| +066+ | 3.53 | John Candelaria | 206.7 | PIT |
| +077+ | 3.22 | David Palmer | 112.7 | WAS |
| +081+ | 3.15 | Mike Caldwell | 226 | MIL |
| +082+ | 3.13 | Jim Palmer | 150.3 | BAL |
| +086+ | 2.99 | Rick Reuschel | 235 | CHN |
| +088+ | 2.95 | Jerry Koosman | 254.7 | MIN |
| +091+ | 2.91 | Dave Frost | 235.3 | ANA |
_