ATLANTA — The Braves purchased the contract rookie pitcher Mike Minor from Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.

Minor, the No. 7 overall draft pick in 2009, will make his first start Monday at Houston. The left-hander is replacing Kris Medlen, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right elbow, in the rotation.

Right-hander Kenshin Kawakami was optioned to Gwinnett to make room for Minor on the 25-man roster.

Minor went a combined 6-7 with a 3.44 ERA and held opponents to a .217 batting average in 21 starts between Double-A Mississippi and Gwinnett.

In six Triple-A starts, the former Vanderbilt standout went 4-1 with a 1.89 ERA.

Kawakami lost his spot in Atlanta's rotation after going 1-9 with a 4.48 ERA in 15 starts.