You’re staring at a frozen lawn or a gray sky, wondering if the cracks of a wooden bat are gone for good until the spring. Most folks think the baseball world goes dark the second the final out of the World Series is recorded in November. Honestly, they’re wrong.
If you're asking is there baseball today, the answer on this Friday, January 16, 2026, is a resounding "yes"—but you won’t find it at Yankee Stadium or Dodger Stadium. You have to look south. Way south. Or perhaps even across the Pacific.
Right now, we are in the absolute fever pitch of the Caribbean winter leagues and the Australian Baseball League (ABL). While MLB players are currently hitting the gym for their first official workouts of 2026—pitchers and catchers don't even report for another few weeks—pro ballplayers in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic are playing for their lives in the playoffs.
Is There Baseball Today? The Winter League Playoff Heat
The biggest games happening right now aren't exhibitions. They are high-stakes postseason matchups. Today, January 16, the LIDOM (Dominican Professional Baseball League) is in the thick of its Round Robin phase. This isn't just "offseason" ball; this is where stars like Juan Soto or Fernando Tatís Jr. have been known to suit up to stay sharp or show love to their hometown fans.
In the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (LMP), we are watching the semifinals unfold. The intensity in these Mexican stadiums makes a standard MLB regular-season game look like a library. They’re playing for a trip to the Caribbean Series, which kicks off in Jalisco this February.
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- Dominican Republic (LIDOM): Round Robin games typically start around 7:30 PM local time.
- Mexico (LMP): Semifinal matchups are happening tonight at venues like Estadio Tomateros or Estadio Teodoro Mariscal.
- Venezuela (LVBP): The Round Robin is deciding who heads to the finals, which are set to begin on January 23.
- Puerto Rico (LBPRC): Semifinal series are active, with games usually starting in the early evening.
Kinda wild, right? While most fans are debating trade rumors on Twitter, thousands of people are actually at the ballpark tonight watching high-level professional baseball.
Don't Forget the Australian Baseball League
If you’re a night owl or a morning person in North America, you've got the Australian Baseball League. Today, January 16, the Adelaide Giants are hosting the Perth Heat at Dicolor Australia Stadium. This is Round 10 of their season.
The ABL is a fascinating mix. You’ve got local Australian talent—some of whom we’ll see in the 2026 World Baseball Classic in March—mixed with top-tier prospects from the MLB, Japan’s NPB, and Korea’s KBO. It’s basically a global laboratory for the next generation of stars.
Why the 2026 Schedule is Unique
This year is a bit different because of the World Baseball Classic (WBC). Usually, players might take it easy in January. But with the WBC starting on March 5, 2026, many veterans are using these winter league games as a "live" spring training.
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They need to be in mid-season form by early March, not late March. This means the quality of play you’re seeing today is actually higher than a typical January. Nobody is just "getting their work in." They are playing to win and playing to represent their countries.
How to Watch Baseball Today
You’re probably wondering where the heck to actually see these games. It’s easier than it used to be, but it’s still a bit of a scavenger hunt.
- MLB.TV: Believe it or not, your MLB subscription often includes access to certain winter league games, specifically LIDOM and LMP. Check the "Postseason" or "Winter Leagues" tab.
- Streaming Apps: Apps like Extrabase.tv (for Venezuela) or La Liga Arco (for Mexico) offer standalone subscriptions.
- YouTube: Sometimes, the ABL streams games for free on their official YouTube channel, though time zones are a beast.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Opening Day
If you only care about the "Big Leagues," the wait is getting shorter. We are officially in the "reporting" window.
Most MLB teams have their first pitcher and catcher workouts starting between February 10 and February 13. The 2026 MLB Regular Season is actually going to be the earliest in history, with a standalone "Opening Night" between the Giants and Yankees on March 25.
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But why wait until March? There is a 95-mph fastball being thrown somewhere in the Caribbean tonight. If you've got the itch for a box score or a highlight reel, the winter leagues are your best friend.
Go check the LIDOM standings or see if the Perth Heat pulled off the upset in Adelaide. The "offseason" is mostly a myth if you know where to look.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your MLB.TV app or the official LIDOM website for tonight's first pitch times. If you live in a colder climate, find a local sports bar with a "Global Sports" package—often they'll have the Caribbean playoffs on if you ask nicely.