PHOENIX (MCT) — Ted Lilly speaks the same way he pitches: Deliberately and carefully.
So when the veteran Dodgers left-hander is asked about his goals for this season, he pauses, fixes his gaze on the questioner and replies without emotion: "I want to be celebrating the last game of the World Series."

Then he adds: "There is some responsibility on my end to help this team get there."

Some, indeed. Entering his 14th year in the big leagues, Lilly, 36, is a key member of the Dodgers starting rotation who will help determine whether the the club return to postseason play for the first time since 2009 and whether Lilly reaches his first World Series.