ANAHEIM -- Left-handed starter John Bale was placed on the Royals' disabled list Thursday and right-handed reliever Joel Peralta was recalled from Triple-A Omaha.

That leaves the Royals without a starter for Sunday's game at Oakland and opens the possibility that rookie right-hander Luke Hochevar will be brought up from Omaha for that game.

Bale complained of a "dead arm" after Tuesday's 11-6 loss at Seattle. That's why manager Trey Hillman decided to place him on the disabled list for left shoulder fatigue.

"We don't believe it's an injury, but we know John's characteristics and competitiveness. My initial reaction yesterday was just go with it and let him start on Sunday. But that's not the wisest thing, so I decided to put him on the DL," Hillman said.

Bale has a 0-3 record and 7.63 ERA in three starts.

Hochevar, in three starts for Omaha, has a 1-1 record and a 2.60 ERA. He last pitched Tuesday night and went six shutout innings in a 4-1 victory over Nashville. So he'd be pitching Sunday on his usual four days of rest.

Another possibility might be left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA in two starts for Omaha. On Monday night, he held Memphis to one run in five innings of a 4-1 win.

Hochevar was a top candidate for the starting rotation for much of Spring Training before being optioned to Omaha. De La Rosa didn't make the rotation and was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Omaha.

Hillman said only that Sunday's starter was "TBA," to be announced.

"We'll see how the bullpen goes and make our decision as time progresses on who's going to pitch Sunday at Oakland," Hillman said.

"[We have] all kinds of options. It depends on what we do in the bullpen. We've got a day off the next day and we could go with a bullpen start. For right now, the only thing we know is that John Bale is not going to pitch it and we're going to evaluate the next two or three days and see where we sit."

The Royals' bullpen includes Hideo Nomo and Leo Nunez, both of whom have starting experience. However, Nomo was eliminated as a rotation candidate in Spring Training and has given up six runs in four innings of relief so far. Nunez has been valuable in relief and seems to have taken the right-handed setup role.

They would be possibilities, as would another roster move.

"Very possible as well," Hillman said. "It all depends on what we see the next two days."

Peralta was a bullpen workhorse for the Royals in the previous two seasons but was optioned to Omaha this spring. For Omaha, he's appeared in four games without allowing a run in 10 innings. He has one victory.

Bale said there's no pain in his left shoulder. He's scheduled to resume throwing next Tuesday.

He expressed disappointment on not making Sunday's start against the A's.

"I'd take the ball and go, but Trey made that decision on what's best for the team. ... So I'm not happy about it but I respect his decision. There's no sense hurting it and being out longer and really hurting the team," Bale said.

After Tuesday's loss, Bale shaved off his handsome head of hair in hopes the bald look would change his luck.

Not so far.