NEW YORK -- Not only do the Giants have the best record in baseball, but they also have a deep and talented farm system that suggests they’ll be able to sustain their success for years to come.

The Giants came in at No. 8 in MLB Pipeline’s updated farm system rankings, making them one of four teams with a winning Major League record to crack the top 10.

San Francisco stood at No. 11 heading into the 2021 season and was at No. 13 in last year’s midseason rankings, but the organization received an influx of talent from this year's MLB Draft class, which was headlined by Mississippi State right-hander Will Bednar and Fordham left-hander Matt Mikulski.

Many of the Giants’ top international signings have also taken impressive steps forward with their development this season, including shortstop Marco Luciano and outfielders Luis Matos and Jairo Pomares.

The 19-year-old Luciano, who was recently promoted to High-A Eugene, is now ranked the No. 5 overall prospect in baseball, joining catcher Joey Bart (No. 16), Matos (No. 84) and outfielder Heliot Ramos (No. 87) on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list.

Bart, 24, debuted with the Giants last year, but he’s appeared in only two Major League games this season and is currently on the injured list at Triple-A Sacramento with a quad injury. Ramos and right-hander Sean Hjelle, who are also on the River Cats’ roster, aren’t too far away either, but their chances of earning a September callup are slimmer this year because rosters are only going to expand from 26 to 28 players.

Rotation plans
Kevin Gausman is expected to be activated off the COVID-19 injured list on Friday to start against the Braves, who waived him after he posted a 6.19 ERA over 16 starts for them in 2019. Logan Webb will pitch on Saturday, and the Giants are hoping Anthony DeSclafani will show enough improvement with his ailing right ankle to come off the 10-day IL to start Sunday’s series finale at Truist Park.

If DeSclafani’s ankle doesn’t respond as expected, the Giants will likely turn to left-hander Sammy Long, who tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Mets on Tuesday.