If you're looking for the score of the cincinnati reds baseball game today, January 17, 2026, you won't find one on the jumbo-tron. It’s the middle of winter. The Great American Ball Park is currently a quiet, frozen ghost of last October’s chaos. But honestly, for most of us in Cincinnati, the "score" that actually matters isn't a live ticker—it's the 8-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers that ended the 2025 season.
That game still feels like a fresh bruise.
The Reds finished that run with an 83-79 record. They were the ultimate "cockroaches," a nickname the team actually embraced because they just wouldn't die. They clawed into the 6th seed of the National League Wild Card, making them one of the few teams in history to make the dance with such a thin win margin. But when it came down to that final score of the cincinnati reds baseball game in the postseason, the magic ran out against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and a Dodgers lineup that looked like a video game cheat code.
Looking Back at the Wild Card Heartbreak
That final game on October 1, 2025, was a rollercoaster. Zack Littell took the mound and actually held it together for a while. You’ve got to remember, the Reds were leading 2-1 going into the fourth. Fans were starting to think, "Maybe? Just maybe?"
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Then the wheels came off.
A blooper here, a deflected grounder there, and suddenly Max Muncy and Kiké Hernández were rounding the bases. By the time Nick Martinez took over in the sixth, the Dodgers put up a four-run crooked number. The final 8-4 score wasn't just a loss; it was a reality check. It showed that while the Reds have the heart, they might still be a couple of arms short of a World Series ring.
The Stats That Defined the 2025 Campaign
- Final Regular Season Record: 83-79 (3rd in NL Central)
- Postseason Result: Swept 0-2 by the Los Angeles Dodgers
- The Power Drought: First team ever to qualify for the postseason without a .270 hitter or a 25-home run threat.
- The Bright Spot: Elly De La Cruz hitting 25 HRs and swiping 67 bags (the kid is a literal human highlight reel).
The Score of the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Game: The Offseason Edition
Even though there isn't a box score to check this morning, the front office is playing a high-stakes game of Sudoku with the roster. Just this week, news broke that Elly De La Cruz reportedly turned down a massive, record-breaking contract extension.
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Nick Krall, the President of Baseball Operations, confirmed on January 17, 2026, that the team made an offer that would have eclipsed Joey Votto's legendary 10-year, $225 million deal. Elly said no. He’s betting on himself. It’s a gut-punch for fans who wanted that jersey retired before he even hit 25, but that's the business.
Then you have the Gavin Lux trade. On January 15, the Reds sent Lux to the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team deal. In return, they snagged lefty reliever Brock Burke from the Angels. It’s a move designed to fix a bullpen that looked gassed by the time October rolled around.
Recent Roster Moves (January 2026)
- Pierce Johnson: Signed a 1-year, $6.5 million deal to bring some veteran "dad energy" to the relief corps.
- Brock Burke: Acquired via trade to give Terry Francona another left-handed option.
- Sal Stewart: With Lux gone, the rookie now has a "clear runway" (as the scouts say) to take over the DH and corner infield reps.
What to Expect When Spring Training Starts
The scoreboard might be dark, but the score of the cincinnati reds baseball game will be back on the menu soon. Pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Arizona, in about four weeks.
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The 2026 schedule is already out, and it’s a doozy. The Reds open at home against the Boston Red Sox on March 26. If you're planning your life around the opening pitch, that's the date to circle in red marker.
There's a lot of talk about whether the Reds can repeat their "cockroach" run. Terry Francona—or "Tito" as everyone calls him—seems to have the clubhouse's respect. He navigated a weird 2025 season where the team had no "star" power hitters but somehow manufactured runs out of thin air and aggressive baserunning.
But can they do it again without a major bat? The trade of Gavin Lux cleared about $3 million in cap space. Rumors are swirling that they might use that cash to bring back Austin Hays on a one-year "prove it" deal. Hays was decent last year but struggled with a kidney infection that sapped his power. A healthy Hays could be the difference between an 83-win season and a 90-win season.
Actionable Steps for Reds Fans Right Now
If you're itching for baseball, don't just sit there staring at old box scores.
- Check the Redsfest Schedule: It’s happening right now (January 16-17) at the Cincinnati Convention Center. It's basically the only place you can see the players without them being 400 feet away on a field.
- Monitor the Arbitration Tracker: Tyler Stephenson and Graham Ashcraft are still in limbo regarding their 2026 salaries. Those numbers will dictate how much "mad money" Krall has left for late February free-agent bargains.
- Watch the Louisville Bats Roster: The Reds just signed a mountain of minor league depth (players like Michael Toglia and Hagen Danner). These are the guys who will be filling in when the inevitable June injuries hit.
The 2025 season ended with a whimper in LA, but the 2026 version of this team is looking faster, younger, and—hopefully—a little more expensive. Keep an eye on those spring training box scores starting in late February. That’s when the "real" scores start counting again.