| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| J.R. Richard | HOU | 7.03 | 197909110_HOU_CIN |
| Tommy John | NYA | 5.83 | 197909090_NYA_DET |
| David Palmer | WAS | 2.36 | 197909111_CHN_WAS |
| Phil Niekro | ATL | 2.3 | 197909090_SDN_ATL |
| Rick Reuschel | CHN | 1.79 | 197909090_PHI_CHN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Keough | OAK | -3.67 | 197909110_OAK_MIL |
| John Denny | SLN | -2.72 | 197909110_SLN_PIT |
| Roger Erickson | MIN | -2.16 | 197909101_MIN_KCA |
| Moose Haas | MIL | -2.12 | 197909090_MIL_ANA |
| Larry McWilliams | ATL | -1.74 | 197909110_ATL_SFN |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1979-09-11.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +008+ | 6.46 | J.R. Richard | 257.3 | HOU |
| +013+ | 6.16 | Steve Rogers | 215.3 | WAS |
| +015+ | 5.95 | Joe Niekro | 234 | HOU |
| +016+ | 5.84 | Tommy John | 242 | NYA |
| +018+ | 5.75 | Ron Guidry | 207.3 | NYA |
| +021+ | 5.23 | Burt Hooton | 212 | LAN |
| +022+ | 4.98 | Gaylord Perry | 232.7 | SDN |
| +023+ | 4.98 | Dennis Eckersley | 231 | BOS |
| +036+ | 4.27 | Bill Lee | 192.7 | WAS |
| +040+ | 4.04 | Craig Swan | 225 | NYN |
| +041+ | 4.02 | Mike Marshall | 134 | MIN |
| +045+ | 3.91 | Mike Flanagan | 234.7 | BAL |
| +051+ | 3.75 | Mike Caldwell | 207.7 | MIL |
| +053+ | 3.69 | Phil Niekro | 299 | ATL |
| +054+ | 3.6 | Mike LaCoss | 190.7 | CIN |
| +056+ | 3.57 | Dan Schatzeder | 140 | WAS |
| +057+ | 3.54 | Joaquin Andujar | 190.3 | HOU |
| +059+ | 3.51 | Rick Reuschel | 218 | CHN |
| +065+ | 3.17 | John Fulgham | 117.3 | SLN |
| +067+ | 3.13 | Rudy May | 74.3 | WAS |
| +068+ | 3.1 | Jim Palmer | 135.3 | BAL |
| +069+ | 3.09 | Ken Forsch | 147.3 | HOU |
| +071+ | 3.07 | Jerry Koosman | 228.7 | MIN |
| +074+ | 3.07 | Dennis Martinez | 266.3 | BAL |
| +078+ | 2.93 | David Palmer | 106 | WAS |
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