Baseball doesn't actually sleep in January. If you're asking to show me today's baseball scores, you aren't just looking for a box score; you're looking for signs of life in the dead of winter. It's January 17, 2026. While the big-league diamonds in the Bronx and Los Angeles are currently covered in frost or undergoing off-season maintenance, the crack of the bat is echoing elsewhere.
Honestly, the "off-season" is a bit of a lie. Between the high-stakes Caribbean playoffs and the frenzy of MLB free agency, the scoreboard is moving even if the grass isn't green in Chicago.
Show Me Today's Baseball Scores: Winter Ball Heat
While Major League Baseball is in its hibernation phase, the Caribbean leagues are reaching a boiling point. This is where the real "today's scores" live right now.
In the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico, the Tomateros de Culiacán have already punched their ticket to the 2026 Caribbean Series. They just finished a dominant sweep of the Algodoneros de Guasave. If you were looking for scores yesterday, you saw an 8-1 blowout that sent Culiacán to the finals.
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Meanwhile, over in the LIDOM (Dominican Republic), the Toros del Este are on the verge of something big. They've been battling the Leones del Escogido in a round-robin that feels more like a street fight than a tournament. Eloy Jiménez—yeah, the big man himself—has been at the center of the Toros' late-inning rallies.
Here is what the "scoreboard" looks like in the winter leagues today:
- LIDOM: Leones del Escogido and Toros del Este are locked in a struggle for the top seed. Every run matters because the loser of this round-robin goes home, and nobody wants to miss the Caribbean Series in February.
- Liga ARCO: Charros de Jalisco holds a 3-1 lead over Águilas de Mexicali. Ronald Medrano has been absolutely lights-out on the mound, giving the Jalisco fans plenty to cheer about as they look to join Culiacán in the finals.
- LBPRC (Puerto Rico): The Cangrejeros de Santurce are currently bullying the Leones de Ponce. They’ve got a 3-0 lead in their series. It’s basically a countdown to a trophy at this point.
Why Winter Scores Matter for the 2026 MLB Season
You might think these games are just for local pride, but look closer. Scouts are everywhere. You've got guys like Luisangel Acuña—Ronald's younger brother—tearing it up for Cardenales de Lara in Venezuela. He went 2-for-3 with five RBIs just a couple of days ago. When you look at the 2026 box scores in May, don't be surprised if these are the names you see leading the National League in hits.
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The MLB "Scoreboard": Tracking the Big Off-Season Wins
In the Major Leagues, the "scores" are measured in millions of dollars and contract years. This week has been absolutely chaotic. If you want the real tally of who won the day, you have to look at the transactions.
The Los Angeles Dodgers just did it again. They signed Kyle Tucker to a massive four-year, $240 million deal. It's almost unfair. After winning back-to-back World Series titles in 2024 and 2025, they decided to add arguably the best outfielder on the market.
But the Mets didn't sit on their hands. After losing out on Tucker, Steve Cohen pulled the trigger on a three-year, $126 million deal for Bo Bichette. He's expected to move to third base, which makes the Mets' infield look like an All-Star roster.
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Recent MLB "Scoreboard" Updates:
- Alex Bregman signed a five-year, $175 million deal with the Chicago Cubs. The North Side finally got their cornerstone.
- J.T. Realmuto is staying home. He signed a three-year, $45 million extension with the Phillies yesterday.
- Nolan Arenado is officially an Arizona Diamondback. The Cardinals traded him for a minor league pitcher, basically just to clear the books.
- Ranger Suárez got paid. The Red Sox scooped him up for five years and $130 million.
What Most People Get Wrong About January Scores
Most fans think the season starts in late March. They’re wrong. March 25, 2026, is the official Opening Night (Giants vs. Yankees), but the momentum is built right now.
People often ask to show me today's baseball scores expecting a 0-0 tie because no games are listed on the standard MLB app. But if you look at the AUSL (Australian Baseball League) or the winter leagues, the games are fast-paced and high-stakes. The quality of play is surprisingly high because these guys are playing for jobs.
Also, don't sleep on the college scrimmage circuit. Schools like Northeastern and the University of Minnesota are already getting ready for exhibition games against MLB squads in late February. The "score" there isn't about the win; it's about which sophomore pitcher can throw 98 mph in front of 20 scouts.
Actionable Next Steps for Baseball Fans
If you're looking for live action right now, stop checking the MLB home page.
- Download the LIDOM or Liga ARCO apps. Most games are streamed, and the atmosphere in those stadiums makes a standard MLB regular-season game look like a library.
- Check the MLB Free Agency Tracker. The "scores" change every hour. With guys like Framber Valdez and Cody Bellinger still unsigned, the balance of power in the NL East and AL West is shifting as we speak.
- Set your calendar for February 20, 2026. That’s when Spring Training officially kicks off with the Yankees facing the Orioles. That's when the "real" scores start coming back to your phone every afternoon.
The off-season is just a different kind of game. Whether it's a walk-off in Mexico or a blockbuster trade in New York, the scoreboard never truly hits zero.