SEATTLE -- From the time they placed John Means on the injured list Thursday, the Orioles envisioned that his time on the shelf would be brief. It looks like it will be.

Means reported no issues testing his strained left shoulder during a flat ground throwing session on Sunday morning. In playing catch from 100-120 feet on the outfield grass at T-Mobile Park, Means cleared the first hurdle standing between himself and a return from the IL.

The next is a formal bullpen session scheduled for Monday, after which the Orioles hope Means can return for next weekend’s series against the Indians.

“He should be good to go,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “We’d love to have him back. We weren’t too worried about his situation, just wanted to make sure everything was right.”

Means, who last pitched on June 16 against the Red Sox, was placed on the IL list four days later after complaining of left deltoid stiffness. He characterized the issue as similar to one he often pitched through in college, calling it minor. The Orioles agreed, not deeming it serious enough for Means to undergo an MRI. He instead spent much of the past week receiving treatment, before grabbing a glove on Sunday morning.

“I’m excited to get off,” Means said. “I’ve felt pretty worthless the last few days.”

On the mound, he’s been the exact opposite. Means has broken out as Baltimore’s most valuable arm since emerging from the roster periphery this spring. He leads Orioles starters in ERA (2.67), FIP (4.08), batting average against (.233), WHIP (1.16) and the entire team in Wins Above Replacement (2.8), according to Baseball Reference.

Means’ sudden absence threw the Orioles’ already ultra-thin pitching situation even more in flux, resulting in a bullpen day that turned out disastrous in a 10-9 loss Friday to the Mariners. The Orioles have two off-days this week, meaning that if Means can return by the weekend, he’ll have only missed one start.

“Everything feels strong,” Hyde said. “To have him back out there would be huge for us.”

Straily outrighted

Designated for assignment on Thursday, right-hander Dan Straily cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.

As a player with upwards of four years of service time, Straily could’ve rejected the assignment and opted to test the market, though doing so would’ve required forfeiting around $450,000 in salary. Instead, he heads to Norfolk on the heels the most trying stretch of his career.

Signed in April to plug the back end of their leaky rotation, Straily went 2-4 with a 9.82 ERA in 14 games (eight starts) for the Orioles, allowing an MLB-high 22 home runs over 47 2/3 innings. He was also cut this spring by the Marlins.

“I’m glad he’s sticking around,” Hyde said. “For him to get back on track, to get some comfort level, and a clean-slate start.”

Straily, 30, is 44-40 with a 4.56 career ERA over parts of eight big league seasons with the Orioles, Marlins, Reds, Cubs, Astros and A's.