| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| J.R. Richard | HOU | 8.55 | 197909290_HOU_LAN |
| Tommy John | NYA | 5.84 | 197909290_TOR_NYA |
| Mike Flanagan | BAL | 4.38 | 197909290_BAL_CLE |
| Bill Lee | WAS | 2.42 | 197909290_PHI_WAS |
| Craig Swan | NYN | 2.03 | 197909290_NYN_SLN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Huffman | TOR | -5.59 | 197909290_TOR_NYA |
| Vida Blue | SFN | -4.42 | 197909270_LAN_SFN |
| Matt Keough | OAK | -3.07 | 197909270_OAK_TEX |
| Paul Hartzell | MIN | -2.69 | 197909290_MIL_MIN |
| Mike Torrez | BOS | -1.52 | 197909280_BOS_DET |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-09-29.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +004+ | 8.71 | J.R. Richard | 292.3 | HOU |
| +011+ | 6.97 | Ron Guidry | 233.3 | NYA |
| +015+ | 6.55 | Tommy John | 276.3 | NYA |
| +019+ | 5.81 | Joe Niekro | 256.7 | HOU |
| +020+ | 5.7 | Dennis Eckersley | 247 | BOS |
| +022+ | 5.39 | Mike Flanagan | 265.7 | BAL |
| +023+ | 5.31 | Steve Rogers | 240.7 | WAS |
| +025+ | 5.07 | Burt Hooton | 212 | LAN |
| +026+ | 4.86 | Gaylord Perry | 232.7 | SDN |
| +028+ | 4.8 | Phil Niekro | 333 | ATL |
| +034+ | 4.65 | Bill Lee | 222 | WAS |
| +037+ | 4.61 | John Fulgham | 146 | SLN |
| +044+ | 4.39 | Dan Schatzeder | 162 | WAS |
| +046+ | 4.27 | Mike Marshall | 142.7 | MIN |
| +048+ | 4.23 | Tom Seaver | 215 | CIN |
| +051+ | 4.14 | Ken Forsch | 177.7 | HOU |
| +058+ | 3.76 | Mike Caldwell | 235 | MIL |
| +060+ | 3.71 | David Palmer | 122.7 | WAS |
| +066+ | 3.57 | Rudy May | 93.7 | WAS |
| +068+ | 3.5 | Craig Swan | 251.3 | NYN |
| +073+ | 3.38 | Jim Bibby | 137.7 | PIT |
| +086+ | 2.95 | Jerry Koosman | 254.7 | MIN |
| +087+ | 2.9 | Silvio Martinez | 203.7 | SLN |
| +093+ | 2.79 | Jack Billingham | 158 | DET |
| +096+ | 2.72 | Jack Morris | 188.7 | DET |
_