You're probably looking for a box score. You want to see how many homers Willson Contreras hit or if the bullpen blew a lead in the ninth. But here is the thing: if you are checking for the score of St Louis Cardinals game today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, you aren't going to find a line score with runs, hits, and errors.
The birds aren't playing. Not yet.
Right now, Busch Stadium is tucked under a layer of Missouri frost, and the only "score" being kept is how many autographs fans can snag at the Winter Warm-Up. We are deep in the heart of the offseason. While the crack of the bat is still months away—March 26 against Tampa Bay, to be exact—the Cardinals are actually the biggest story in town this weekend for reasons that have nothing to do with a scoreboard.
The real score of St Louis Cardinals game today isn't on a scoreboard
If you're at Ballpark Village today, the "score" is basically Chaim Bloom vs. the massive expectations of a restless fan base. Since there is no actual score of St Louis Cardinals game today, the focus has shifted entirely to the rebuild.
Honestly, it’s a bit surreal. Yesterday, a freak snow squall hit St. Louis, but fans still lined up at the crack of dawn. They weren't there to see a game; they were there to hear Bloom explain how the Cardinals plan to compete with the "Death Star" Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers just dropped $240 million on Kyle Tucker. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are talking about "resourcefulness" and "young energy." That’s the reality of the 2026 season. If you were hoping to see a winning score today, the closest you'll get is the positive vibe coming from the prospect dugout.
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Who is actually "playing" right now?
Since it is mid-January, the "lineup" today looks a little different. Instead of a starting pitcher, we have:
- JJ Wetherholt: The consensus top prospect and likely Opening Day second baseman.
- Riley O’Brien: The pitcher who just confirmed he’s playing for South Korea in the WBC this March.
- Chaim Bloom: Fielding questions from fans who are, let’s be real, a little bit skeptical about the "financial parameters" talk.
Why the schedule matters for your search
People search for the score of St Louis Cardinals game today because they're used to the rhythm of the season. But in 2026, the MLB schedule is a bit of a tease.
We know the home opener is March 26. We know they play the Mets right after that. We even know that on May 31, the Cards will be on NBC/Peacock against the Cubs for a Sunday Night Baseball showdown. But today? Today is about the Cardinals Caravan.
While some players are at the Warm-Up, others are literally on buses traveling to 15 different cities across "Cardinals Nation." They’re in places like Centralia and Springfield, handing out autograph tickets to kids and trying to drum up excitement for a team that finished 78-84 last year.
"We cannot be more focused on the obstacle than the goal," Bloom said during a Q&A session this weekend.
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That's a nice sentiment, but fans want wins. They want to see a box score where the Cardinals have more runs than the other guys.
Misconceptions about January baseball
A lot of people forget that the "Cardinals" isn't just the MLB team. If you saw a headline about a score of St Louis Cardinals game today, you might be looking at:
- Wesleyan University Cardinals: Their women’s ice hockey team actually tied Hamilton 0-0 in a shootout yesterday.
- Lindenwood: They played hockey in St. Charles this weekend.
- Saint Louis University: The Billikens women's basketball team beat La Salle 66-57.
But the MLB Cardinals? They are strictly in "talking" mode.
What to expect when the actual games start
When the games actually count, the 2026 season is going to look different. There are 35 scheduled giveaways this year. If you go to the game on March 29 against Tampa, you get a stainless-steel tumbler. On April 11 against Boston, it’s a dugout hoodie.
But you aren't here for the merch. You're here for the score.
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The 2025 season ended on a sour note with a four-game losing streak and a sub-.500 record. The "score" for the front office this winter has been about clearing the decks. They are leaning heavily on guys like Quinn Mathews and the aforementioned Wetherholt.
Actionable steps for Cardinals fans today
Since you can't watch a game today, here is what you should actually be doing to stay ahead of the 2026 season:
- Check the Autograph Schedule: If you are in St. Louis, the Winter Warm-Up continues through Monday. Check the official MLB site for which prospects are signing today.
- WBC Watch: Keep an eye on Riley O’Brien. Since he’s pitching for South Korea, his "spring training" starts much earlier than everyone else's.
- Ticket Alerts: Single-game tickets for the March 26 opener against the Rays are going to be pricey—starting around $82. If you want the "cheap" seats for the Mets series (starting at $10), you should book those now before the spring training hype starts.
- The Writers' Dinner: Tonight is the 66th annual Baseball Writers’ Dinner at the Missouri Athletic Club. This is where the "Red Schoendienst Medal" and "St. Louis Baseball Man of the Year" awards are handed out. It’s the closest thing to a "game night" atmosphere you’ll find in January.
Basically, the score of St Louis Cardinals game today is a big, fat zero because the bats are still in the rack. But the work being done at Busch Stadium this weekend will determine if those scores look any better come October.
Keep an eye on the Spring Training opener in February. That is when the numbers finally start appearing on the board again.