ARLINGTON, Texas - Elvis Andrus took a home run trot at Rangers Ballpark, cheering a ball that landed 1,400 miles away. Prince Fielder enjoyed a victory lap at Miller Park, hugging fans along the way. Kirk Gibson pumped his fist at Chase Field, celebrating while the crowd chanted his name.

All over baseball, it was one big wrap party.

The Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers each clinched on Friday night - only once before, on Oct. 5, 1985, had three division spots been decided on the same day, STATS LLC said.

All six divisions already locked up, still five days left in the regular season. Not since 1986, when there were only four divisions, had they all been sealed so early, STATS found.

"This kind of stuff never gets old," a goggles-wearing Michael Young said, spraying bubbly in the middle of the Texas clubhouse. "We know we're in."

The wild-card races got a little less wild, with Atlanta and Boston expanding their edges.

The New York Yankees, Philadelphia and Detroit previously clinched their divisions. So with a bunch of games remaining on the schedule, what's left to watch? Plenty.

Not a single playoff matchup is set yet. They may not be until the final out Wednesday night, either. Even if the Red Sox hold their 2-game edge and the Braves maintain their three-game lead, it may take tiebreakers - records in head-to-head meetings, that is - until fans find out the first-round pairings.

The Diamondbacks completed baseball's most dramatic turnaround, going from 65-97 last year to winning their first NL West crown since 2007. They did it in Gibson's first full season as manager.

"I don't care if it's your first year or your 10th year, it's what you set out to do," Gibson said.

Associated Press