Give Randy Wolf this much: he never minces words.

"This is awful," said Wolf, after a brutal, five-home run outing last Thursday.

Wolf, who signed a three-year contract before the season worth nearly $30 million, looks absolutely nothing like the dominant left-hander who went 11-7 with a 3.23 earned run average last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This season, Wolf is 4-5 and has a 4.66 ERA, nearly a half-run higher than his career mark of 4.15. He's allowed 79 hits (an average of 6.6 per game) and 10 home runs while walking 37 in 73 1/3 innings.

"It's one of those times when you feel like you'll wake up and it'll be a bad dream," Wolf said. "But it's not. This is reality."

Especially troubling are his numbers against left-handers. With the Dodgers last year, Wolf was terror on lefty batters, holding them to a .200 batting average with one home run and 60 strikeouts.

Those numbers are lofty compared to his career averages but still, left-handed opponents are hitting .299 against Wolf this year with five homers and five doubles.

"He hasn't given us a chance to win many games when he has started," said manager Ken Macha.

All of his nine-inning averages this year are worse than those from a year ago. 

• Hits -- 10.15 (7.48, 2009)
• Home runs -- 1.73 (1.01)
• Walks -- 4.5 (2.34)
• Strikeouts -- 5.65 (6.73)

Wolf said that he doesn't feel any different than he did last year and hasn't made and major mechanical changes, leaving him stumped.

"I haven't pitched well yet in my mind," Wolf said. "It's frustrating because I don't feel any different than I did last year. The results definitely aren't there. I've got to do something to get better results than I'm getting right now."

Wolf takes the mound Monday night when the Brewers open a three-game interleague series at Anaheim. The Brewers are 5-8 in his 13 starts this season.

"It's one of those times when you feel like you'll wake up and it's a bad dream," Wolf said. "But it's not. It's reality. I have to deal with it and try to get better."

Running into trouble: Making things harder on the pitching staff is the inability of the Brewers' catchers to stop opponents on the basepaths.

"Extra bases are always a concern," Macha said

Jonathan Lucroy has shown some promise since being called up to replace Gregg Zaun, out for the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder. Lucroy has caught two of six runners so far.

Despite the small sample size, Macha has given Lucroy a chance to start based in large part on his early success.

"He's certainly done a nice job so far with that," Macha said.

While he continues adjusting and learning the pitchers' nuances and gets comfortable at the plate (.333 in seven games), Lucroy is dedicated to improving as a defensive catcher.

"I take a lot of pride in doing that; I fully enjoy throwing people out," Lucroy said. "I do my best every day to be perfect in that regard, because that's one part of the game I feel like I can control."

Interleague play continues: The Brewers open a three-game series Monday in Anaheim, kicking off a week of interleague match-ups.

Macha understands that interleague action is good for fans, who get to watch top stars from the other league, up close and personal. At the same time, though, he sees some problems with it.

"It's good for the fans but it does create some inequities," Macha said.

The Brewers' interleague slate this year includes the Minnesota Twins -- Milwaukee's permanent "super-rival" -- and Oakland, the Los Angeles Angels and Texas out of the American League West.

Those teams have a combined winning percentage of .514 and three of the teams -- Minnesota, Texas and the Angels -- are in or within a half-game of first place in their respective divisions.

Quick hits: Rickie Weeks' fifth-inning double on Saturday was his 500th career hit. He was picked off trying to steal third ... George Kottaras is 3-for-25 with three walks in June... Texas was making its first appearance at Miller Park and first trip to Milwaukee since 1997, when the Brewers played at County Stadium and were members of the American League ... With 78 home runs, the Brewers are one behind Cincinnati for the National League lead ... The Brewers are facing the Angels for the first time since 2004 ... Prince Fielder entered play Sunday just 10-for-62 with runners in scoring position. The team was 6-for-48 with RISP on the last home stand ... Brewers relievers have a 2.96 ERA over the last eight games (27.1 IP) ... First-round draft pick Dylan Covey and his family will meet the team Monday in Anaheim. The Brewers have yet to reach agreement with the prep pitcher, but have signed 25 of their draft picks so far.

Injury report: C Gregg Zaun will miss the remainder of the season to undergo surgery to repair his injured shoulder ... RHP Todd Coffey, eligible to return from the disabled list today, will make a one-inning minor league rehab assignment before rejoining the team ... RHP LaTroy Hawkins played catch on Sunday but has yet to begin a formal throwing program ... LHP Doug Davis joined the team on the trip to California. He'll throw a simulated game Tuesday in Anaheim and a bullpen session Thursday at the team's spring training conference in Arizona. If Davis reports no issue after those outings, he'll pitch for Class AAA Nashville Saturday and return to the Brewers for a start June 29 against Houston.

On the farm: Class A Wisconsin IF Ryan "Scooter" Gennett leads the organization with a .338 average ... C Angel Salome has switched from catcher to the outfield and is now with Class A Brevard County ... In 10 games with Class AAA Nashville, IF Mat Gamel is hitting .289 with a home run and four RBI.

He said it: "We were kind of hoping to get the old guy" -- OF Corey Hart, after the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano held the Milwaukee offense in check in his second start since returning to the rotation.

This week: The Brewers are on the West Coast tonight where they open a three-game series in Anaheim. Randy Wolf starts the opener, facing the Angels' Joe Saunders (L). On Tuesday, Dave Bush (1-5, 5.06) goes up against Ervina Santana (6-4, 3.52) and Chris Narveson (5-3, 5.46) wraps things up Wednesday against Joel Pinero (5-6, 4.77). After taking Thursday off, the Brewers continue the road swing with three games against the Rockies in Denver.

Attendance (through 30 home games): Total -- 1,043,250; Average -- 34,775; Sellouts -- 5.

N.L. Central standings (through games Sunday): 1, Cincinnati, 36-28; 2, St. Louis, 34-29 (1.5); 3, Chicago, 28-35 (-7.5); 4, Milwaukee, 26-37 (9.5); 5, Houston, 25-29 (-11); 6, 23-40 (-12.5).