"The Pirates' next series begins Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the two winningest pitchers in PNC Park history will be on opposite sides: Zach Duke , making his homecoming, is scheduled to start the second game Wednesday against longtime teammate and friend Paul Maholm .

Duke is 31-31 at PNC Park, Maholm 31-27.

"A showdown," Maholm said jokingly Sunday morning.

What might that return be like for Duke after a decade in the Pirates organization?

"I don't know, honestly," Duke said from Phoenix, where the Diamondbacks played this weekend. "I feel like I was pretty courteous to the fans there. Hopefully, I'm well received. It'll be fun."

And of facing Maholm?

"That'll be fun. I've known him a long time, and we've been trading texts. We don't really have the relationship where we talk too much trash. We respect each other too much."

Duke, 28, was drafted by the Pirates in 2000 and made 161 starts until he was traded in November for minor-league pitcher Cesar Valdez . Duke's pitching hand was broken in Arizona's spring training, but he has made two starts since returning May 28 with a superb debut of seven scoreless innings and his first career home run."