"Zach Duke is a workhorse in the Pirates' starting rotation.

The left-hander has made 30-plus starts in three of his first four full seasons in the majors. The exception was 2007, when injuries limited Duke to 19 starts.

Last season, Duke did not miss a start and led the team with a career-high 11 victories. He tossed 213 innings, tops on the team and 12th in National League. Duke also was tied for third in NL with three complete games, the most by a Pirate since Jeff Suppan had three in 2003.

"I take a lot of pride in the fact that I take the mound every time and, most of the time, I give us a chance to win," Duke said. "The key is getting into a routine. You let your body adjust to the routine and stick to it, no matter what. That doesn't mean you can kill yourself (working out) one week and then do nothing the next week."

Duke's training regimen focuses on his legs and core (abdomen, oblique) muscles. He's built a workout routine that includes elements of what he's learned from the Pirates' staff and his own personal trainers

Duke said he takes an old-school approach."