Rays' Pham says he won't go on IL: 'I'll fight them on that'

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Tommy Pham is nursing a hand injury that's kept him out of the lineup for two of the last three games.

But ever the competitor, Pham insisted he won't be sidelined long if he has any say in the matter.

"I'm not going on the injured list; I'll fight them on that,'' Pham said about the Rays, according to Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. "Granted, there is something wrong with my hand, but I can play. These pills have to kick in. The swelling already went down a lot. So I'll be all right, I'm playing.''

Pham was diagnosed with a sprain after sliding into second base on July 28 against the Toronto Blue Jays. And while he's been taking medicine to ease the pain and swelling, he also said the injury is a little more severe than first reported.

"I’ve got some problems,'' Pham said. "There's a small fracture, but it's small enough where I can play. And I've got some swelling.''

In eight August games, the 31-year-old is batting .167/.265/.267 with three extra-base hits (all doubles).

The Rays will play two more games in San Diego against the Padres before returning home for a weekend series against the Detroit Tigers.