ST. PETERSBURG -- The outlook for Tommy Pham's dislocated right ring finger continues to be positive, though he likely won't play again until Friday.
Pham exited the Rays' 4-1 win over the Royals in the eighth inning Tuesday after sustaining his injury. Subsequently, the finger was popped back into place, and X-rays were negative.
"It's swollen," Pham said Wednesday. "Feels fine, other than the swelling."
When asked about a timetable for his return, Pham told reporters, "Obviously not today, or tomorrow. Realistically, probably Friday."
"He's pretty sore," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "A little swollen. More day to day. He acted like he wanted to take some swings tonight and see how it felt, and go from there."
Cash said the idea that Pham could return by Friday was a "fair" forecast.
"When [the finger] first got kind of put back in place, he was a little more eager to get back out there," Cash said. "But when he woke up [Wednesday morning], there was some soreness. So we'll give him a day or two and see how it goes."
Pham came to the Rays in a July 31 trade with the Cardinals. He had just been reinstated off the disabled list on Thursday after sustaining a right foot fracture.