It’s January. In St. Louis, that usually means the only ice we care about is the kind on the windshield or maybe under the skates of the Blues over at Enterprise Center. But if you’re looking for a st louis cardinals game score today, you’re gonna find a big fat zero.
Actually, it’s worse than that. It’s quiet. Too quiet.
But don’t let the empty scoreboard fool you. While there aren't any fly balls landing in the bleachers at Busch right now, the "score" for the 2026 Cardinals is being written in the front office, and honestly, it’s been a bit of a gut-punch for the fans who grew up on the "Cardinal Way."
The Scorecard of a Roster Teardown
If we're talking about the most recent actual baseball, the Cardinals finished their 2025 campaign with a thud. A 78-84 record. Fourth place in the NL Central. It wasn't pretty. They capped off the year losing a series to the Cubs—which, let's be real, is the worst way to head into winter.
But the real st louis cardinals game score that matters right now isn't from September; it's the tally of who’s left. Just a few days ago, on January 13, 2026, the other shoe finally dropped. Nolan Arenado is gone.
Traded to the Diamondbacks.
It sorta feels like the end of an era, even if that era didn't quite deliver the rings we wanted. Chaim Bloom, the new sheriff in town (officially the President of Baseball Operations now), isn't just nibbling at the edges. He’s taking a chainsaw to the payroll.
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Who’s Gone? The "L" Column
- Nolan Arenado: Shipped to Arizona for a minor league pitcher named Jack Martinez.
- Sonny Gray: Traded to the Red Sox earlier this winter.
- Willson Contreras: Also headed to Boston in a separate deal.
- Miles Mikolas: His contract finally expired, and he’s out in the free-agent wilderness.
Basically, the Cardinals are paying about $59 million over the next two years for players to not play for them. That’s the "score" fans are looking at. It’s a rebuilding tax. It’s painful, but according to the front office, it’s the only way to modernize an organization that had become, well, a little bit dusty.
When Does the Real St Louis Cardinals Game Score Return?
You’ve probably got the itch. I get it. We all want to see the box scores again. Mark your calendars for February 21, 2026. That’s when the Cardinals take the field at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, for their Grapefruit League opener.
The first "score" of the year will likely be against the Marlins or the Mets, but don't get too hung up on the final tally in February. Spring training scores are fake news. What matters is seeing if the "New Guard" can actually hit a curveball.
Key Dates for the 2026 Comeback:
- February 12: Pitchers and catchers report. Expect a lot of "best shape of my life" stories.
- February 16: The full squad assembles. This is where we see what the post-Arenado clubhouse looks like.
- March 26: Opening Day. The Cardinals start at home against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Misconception: Rebuild Means "Tanking"
There’s this idea floating around the Lou that the 2026 season is a wash. That we should just check the st louis cardinals game score for the Memphis Redbirds instead because the big club is going to lose 100 games.
I’m not so sure.
Sure, losing Arenado and Gray hurts the "star power" department. But look at who’s actually going to be on the dirt. You’ve got Masyn Winn at shortstop, who’s basically a human highlight reel. You’ve got Jordan Walker, who hopefully spent the winter figuring out how to lift the ball. And then there's the pitching.
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Chaim Bloom has been hoarding "arms with options." We might not have a $30 million ace, but we have a dozen guys like Tink Hence and Quinn Mathews who are hungry. The score might be 4-3 more often than 10-0, but it won’t be boring.
How to Track the Score This Season
When the season finally kicks off in March, staying on top of the st louis cardinals game score is going to look a little different. The regional sports network drama is still a bit of a mess, but most games will be on FanDuel Sports Network (the artist formerly known as Bally).
If you're a data nerd like me, you aren't just looking at the final score. You're looking at the Statcast data.
- Is Jordan Walker's exit velocity up?
- Is Masyn Winn still throwing 100mph across the diamond?
- Did the new bullpen additions actually find the strike zone?
What Most People Get Wrong About This Offseason
Everyone is focused on the "salary dump" aspect. They see the Cardinals eating $31 million of Arenado's contract and think the owners are just being cheap.
Honestly, it’s the opposite.
Eating that money was the only way to get teams to take the veterans so the Cardinals could play the kids. The "score" they are trying to win isn't the 2026 World Series—it’s the 2028 through 2032 window. They’re trying to build a sustainable machine like the Dodgers or the Rays.
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It’s a bitter pill. St. Louis fans are used to being "in it" every single year. But being "kinda good" (the 81-81 trap) is exactly what got the team into this mess.
Actionable Steps for the True Fan
Don't just sit around waiting for April. If you want to stay connected to the team while the scoreboard is dark, here is what you should actually do:
Check out the Cardinals Caravan. It’s hitting the road this week. They’ll be in Springfield and Jonesboro on January 16-19. It’s the best way to see the new kids like Blaze Jordan or Thomas Saggese up close before they become household names.
Grab your tickets early. Single-game tickets for 2026 go on sale Friday, January 16. Even if the team is rebuilding, there is nothing like a Saturday night at Busch with a cold Budweiser and a rally towel.
Follow the minor league box scores starting in April. This year, the "real" st louis cardinals game score might actually be happening in Triple-A Memphis or Double-A Springfield. That’s where the future is hiding.
The transition is going to be bumpy. There will be nights where the score is ugly and the stadium feels a little too quiet without the "Nolan" chants. But the foundation is being poured. Whether you like the new blueprint or not, the 2026 Cardinals are going to be younger, faster, and—hopefully—a lot more fun than the aging squad we watched last year.
Keep an eye on the transactions. The teardown might not be over yet. Brendan Donovan and JoJo Romero are still names being floated in trade talks. By the time we hit Jupiter, this roster might look even younger.
Buckle up. It's a new era in St. Louis.