| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Jackson | CIN | 5.04 | 198809040_CIN_CHN |
| Tim Leary | LAN | 4.99 | 198809020_LAN_NYN |
| Ted Higuera | MIL | 4.71 | 198809040_MIL_DET |
| Roger Clemens | BOS | 3.72 | 198809040_BOS_ANA |
| Mike Scott | HOU | 3.47 | 198809020_SLN_HOU |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Glavine | ATL | -3.26 | 198809020_PIT_ATL |
| Rich Dotson | NYA | -2.48 | 198809040_NYA_OAK |
| Jim Clancy | TOR | -1.82 | 198809030_TEX_TOR |
| Oswaldo Peraza | BAL | -1.74 | 198809020_BAL_SEA |
| Curt Young | OAK | -1.68 | 198809020_NYA_OAK |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1988-09-04.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 7.43 | Frank Viola | 214.7 | MIN |
| +006+ | 6.74 | Teddy Higuera | 197 | MIL |
| +007+ | 6.52 | Danny Jackson | 225.7 | CIN |
| +008+ | 6.43 | David Cone | 184 | NYN |
| +010+ | 6.1 | Dennis Martinez | 212 | WAS |
| +011+ | 5.91 | Mark Gubicza | 219 | KCA |
| +015+ | 5.3 | John Tudor | 173.3 | TOT |
| +019+ | 5.02 | Mike Scott | 185.7 | HOU |
| +020+ | 4.98 | Joe Magrane | 133.3 | SLN |
| +021+ | 4.93 | Tim Leary | 194.3 | LAN |
| +026+ | 4.76 | Pascual Perez | 154.3 | WAS |
| +031+ | 4.56 | Roger Clemens | 226.7 | BOS |
| +032+ | 4.51 | Bob Walk | 185.3 | PIT |
| +035+ | 4.36 | Orel Hershiser | 212 | LAN |
| +037+ | 4.22 | Allan Anderson | 164.7 | MIN |
| +042+ | 3.73 | Don Robinson | 131.7 | SFN |
| +043+ | 3.5 | Jose Rijo | 142.3 | CIN |
| +044+ | 3.5 | Jeff Robinson | 172 | DET |
| +046+ | 3.33 | Dwight Gooden | 213.3 | NYN |
| +050+ | 3.23 | Rick Reuschel | 198 | SFN |
| +056+ | 3.08 | Dave LaPoint | 182.7 | TOT |
| +061+ | 2.93 | Greg Harris | 93 | PHI |
| +060+ | 2.93 | Bobby Ojeda | 168 | NYN |
| +062+ | 2.91 | Jim Deshaies | 171 | HOU |
| +065+ | 2.87 | Doug Drabek | 183.3 | PIT |
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